229.66(1)(1) There is created, for each jurisdiction under s. 229.67, a special district that is a local governmental unit, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state, that has the powers under s. 229.68 and the name of which includes “Professional Baseball Park District”. 229.66(2)(2) A district is governed by its district board. The district board may adopt bylaws to govern the district’s activities, subject to this subchapter. Subject to sub. (3), the district board shall consist of the following members: 229.66(2)(a)(a) A chairperson and 3 others, all of whom must be state residents, appointed by the governor. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. 229.66(2)(b)(b) One person, who must be a state resident, appointed by the governor from a list containing the names of not fewer than 3 persons provided by the chief executive officer of the county within the jurisdiction of the district, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. 229.66(2)(bm)(bm) Three persons appointed by the majority leader of the senate, all of whom must be state residents. 229.66(2)(cm)(cm) Three persons appointed by the speaker of the assembly, all of whom must be state residents. 229.66(2)(g)(g) One person, who must be a state resident, appointed by the governor from a list containing the names of not fewer than 3 persons provided by the mayor of the 1st class city within the jurisdiction of the district or if that city is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the president of the council of that city, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. 229.66(2)(gm)(gm) One person, who must be a state resident and who may not be an employee of the state or of a professional baseball team that leases baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as its home facilities, appointed by the governor from a list containing the names of not fewer than 3 persons provided by the professional baseball team. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification. With respect to any of the following, a person appointed under this paragraph may not participate in any nonpublic meeting of the board or vote: 229.66(2)(gm)3.3. Approving or amending a lease or sublease other than specified under subd. 1. or 2. between the district and the professional baseball team. 229.66(2)(gm)6.6. A dispute between the district and the professional baseball team. 229.66(3)(a)(a) Upon appointment under sub. (2), the appointing authorities shall certify the appointees to the secretary of administration. 229.66(3)(b)(b) The terms of office of the district board members are as follows: 229.66(3)(b)1.1. For the chairperson and other persons appointed under sub. (2) (a), 4 years, except that the initial term of office for the initial chairperson appointee and one of the 3 other initial appointees, as designated by the governor, is 2 years. 229.66(3)(b)2.2. For the persons appointed under sub. (2) (bm) and (cm), 4 years, except that the initial term of office of one of the 3 initial appointees under each of those paragraphs is 2 years, as designated by the appointing authority. 229.66(3)(c)(c) Notwithstanding s. 17.07 (3), persons appointed under sub. (2) may be removed from the district board by the appointing authority at pleasure. 229.66(3)(d)1.1. Vacancies for persons appointed under sub. (2) shall be filled by the appointing authority who appointed the person whose office is vacant using the procedure provided under sub. (2) for that position. 229.66(3)(d)2.2. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under subd. 1. shall serve for the remainder of the term to which he or she is appointed. 229.66(4)(4) The governor shall select the chairperson of the district board and the district board shall elect from its membership a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. A majority of the current membership of the district board constitutes a quorum to do business. Unless otherwise provided by law, the district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of those directors who are present at a meeting of the district board. Except in the case of exigent or emergency circumstances that make an in-person meeting impracticable, all meetings of the district board shall be in person. 229.66(5)(5) The members of the district board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 229.66(6)(6) Upon the appointment and qualification of a majority of the members of a district board, the district board may exercise the powers and duties of a district board under this subchapter. 229.66(7)(7) At its first meeting the district board shall name the district. 229.67229.67 Jurisdiction. A district’s jurisdiction is any county with a population of more than 750,000 that is the site of baseball park facilities that are home to a professional baseball team. A district’s jurisdiction is fixed even if the population of the county decreases below 750,001. 229.68229.68 Powers of a district. A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. The district may not incur costs or any obligations for signage related to a change in naming rights for the baseball park facilities. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following: 229.68(1)(1) Adopt and alter an official seal. 229.68(2)(2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded. 229.68(4)(4) In connection with baseball park facilities: 229.68(4)(a)(a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the baseball park facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise, or engage other persons to do these things. 229.68(4)(b)(b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; authorize the sublease of; use; or transfer property; except that the district may not enter into any lease or sublease that does not receive the affirmative vote of a majority of all current members appointed to the district board and eligible to vote on the matter. 229.68(4)(d)(d) Enter into contracts, subject to this paragraph and such standards as may be established by the district board, which standards may include approval by a professional baseball team pursuant to the terms of a lease with the district. For a contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $200,000, the district shall issue a request for proposals or other procurement document to solicit proposals. The district board may award any such contract for any combination or division of work it designates. In awarding a contract, the district board shall consider price; time for completion of work; qualifications and past performance of a contractor; contractor responsiveness; contractor eligibility in accordance with any request for proposals or other procurement document; the results of applicable inspections and tests; and performance standards established by the board, including with respect to quality and workmanship. The district shall determine the most advantageous proposal from a responsible and responsive offeror taking into consideration only the factors under this paragraph and the evaluation criteria set forth in any request for proposals or other procurement document. The district shall award the contract by written notice to the selected offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the request for proposals or other procurement document. 229.68(4)(f)(f) Make a grant of land or other property to the state, especially dedicated by the grant to use for a professional baseball park. 229.68(5)(5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.0301 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan. 229.68(6)(6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.0301, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance. 229.68(7)(7) Subject to s. 229.682 (10), mortgage, pledge, or otherwise encumber the district’s property or funds. 229.68(8)(8) Issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0621, subject to ss. 229.72 to 229.79, and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements, except that the district may issue bonds under this subsection only if all of the following conditions are met: 229.68(8)(a)(a) A supermajority of the district board vote in favor of issuing bonds. 229.68(8)(b)(b) A majority of the members of the district board determines, based on the best available information, that the total cost of the initial construction of baseball park facilities does not exceed $250,000,000. 229.68(8)(c)(c) A majority of the members of the district board determines that the district’s lease arrangement with the professional baseball team franchise that uses baseball park facilities constructed under this subchapter as its home facilities incorporates a term of at least 30 years. 229.68(8)(d)(d) The bonds are issued before December 7, 2023. 229.68(8m)(8m) Obtain loans under s. 16.09 (5) for purposes described under s. 229.687 (2). Any moneys borrowed or accepted under this subsection shall be deposited into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. 229.68(9)(9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate. After December 7, 2023, to the extent feasible, a district shall contract with the investment board to invest funds held in trust under this subchapter. 229.68(12)(12) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, the baseball park facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order. 229.68(13)(13) Establish and collect fees, and establish shared revenue arrangements or other charges for the use of the baseball park facilities or for services rendered by the district. 229.68(14)(14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district’s purposes. 229.68(16)(16) Subject to s. 229.682 (10) accept gifts, loans, grants, and other aid, which may be used only for the following purposes: 229.68(16)(a)(a) Retiring bonds or other debt used to develop, construct, improve, repair, or maintain baseball park facilities. 229.68(16)(d)(d) Making capital improvements to the baseball park facilities. 229.68(17)(17) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the payment of bonds issued by the district. 229.6802229.6802 Lease and nonrelocation agreements required. The grant under s. 16.09 (3) may not be awarded unless the secretary of administration determines that all of the following apply: 229.6802(1)(1) Lease. The district has entered into a customary lease arrangement with a professional baseball team that satisfies all of the following: 229.6802(1)(a)(a) Has a standard term that expires no earlier than December 31, 2050. 229.6802(1)(b)(b) Requires the professional baseball team to make at least 27 annual deposits in the amount of $300,000 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 beginning in 2024. 229.6802(1)(c)(c) In addition to the deposits under par. (b), requires the professional baseball team to make at least 27 annual deposits in the amount of $1,851,852 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 beginning in 2024. 229.6802(1)(d)(d) In addition to the deposits under pars. (b) and (c), requires the professional baseball team to make at least 22 annual rental payments in the amount of $1,208,401 to the district beginning in 2024 and to make at least 5 annual rental payments in the amount of $3,208,401 to the district beginning in 2046, of which the district shall deposit not less than $2,000,000 of each such payment into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. 229.6802(1)(e)(e) In addition to the deposits and payments under pars. (b), (c), and (d), requires the professional baseball team, or a 3rd party on the professional baseball team’s behalf, to make financial contributions in connection with the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of the baseball park facilities during the term of the lease in an amount that totals $50,000,000, of which $25,000,000 must be so contributed before January 1, 2037, and requires the team to regularly report to the district all expenditures under this paragraph. 229.6802(1)(f)(f) Requires the professional baseball team, upon expiration of the lease or upon termination of the lease as a result of breach by the professional baseball team, to disclaim any interest in moneys of the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687 and, upon request of the district, convey and transfer to the district for consideration not to exceed $1 all of the professional baseball team’s right and title to the baseball park facilities, except for ancillary improvements constructed or developed by the professional baseball team after December 7, 2023, without financial contribution from the state or the district. 229.6802(2)(2) Nonrelocation agreement. The district has entered into a nonrelocation agreement with the professional baseball team that, except as required by the league of professional baseball teams of which the team is a member, requires the professional baseball team to play all of its home games at the baseball park facilities and prohibits the professional baseball team from relocating until expiration or termination of the lease according to its terms. 229.6802(3)(3) Third-party negotiator. The district has contracted with a 3rd party approved by a two-thirds vote of all current members appointed to the board and eligible to vote on the matter to represent the district in connection with negotiation of the lease and nonrelocation agreements under this section. 229.6802 HistoryHistory: 2023 a. 40. 229.6805229.6805 Facility management. During the term of any lease between the district and a professional baseball team with respect to baseball park facilities, the district shall, at the district’s expense, contract with a facility management company or employ an executive director with expertise in managing and operating professional sports facilities and venues similar to the baseball park facilities. The contract shall require the facility management company or executive director to have primary responsibility to manage and supervise the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of the baseball park facilities. 229.6805 HistoryHistory: 2023 a. 40. 229.682(1)(1) Gifts and donations. The district board shall explore and consider ways to solicit and encourage gifts and donations for the development, construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of baseball park facilities and, to the extent feasible, implement means to solicit such gifts and donations. 229.682(4)(4) Special ticket provisions. A professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are developed, constructed, improved, repaired, or maintained under this subchapter shall annually designate at least one of the team’s home games in each of April, May, June, July, August, and September as a discount ticket day for which residents of the state may purchase discounted admission tickets. 229.682(6)(6) Use of stadium. The district board shall consider during the design review process the utilization of the facility for events in addition to baseball, which are consistent with the program statement and design for the stadium complex, and do not adversely affect the design, construction schedule or budget. 229.682(7)(7) Youth sports organizations. A professional baseball team that uses as its home field baseball park facilities that are developed, constructed, improved, repaired, or maintained under this subchapter shall make an annual contribution of at least $40,000 to youth sports organizations in this state for the purchase of equipment or the rental or maintenance of athletic facilities that are used by such organizations. The contributions that are required under this subsection may be made in cash or equipment. 229.682(8)(8) Special rental payments. If a district board enters into a lease agreement with a professional baseball team for the rental of baseball park facilities under this subchapter, the lease agreement shall include all of the following: 229.682(8)(a)(a) A provision requiring lessees of sky boxes located in the facilities to pay to the team an amount equivalent to the combined sales tax rates in the jurisdictions in which the facilities are located multiplied by the total of all payments for the rental of the sky boxes. 229.682(8)(b)(b) A provision requiring the team to include amounts received under par. (a) as part of its rental payment to the district. 229.682(9)(9) Capital spending limitations. After 2045, the district may not initiate any capital project that has an expected life span that exceeds the remaining term of the lease arrangement with a professional baseball team with respect to the district’s baseball park facilities. This subsection does not restrict any of the following capital spending: 229.682(9)(a)(a) An amount that does not exceed the amount of the professional baseball team’s deposits under s. 229.6802 (1) (b) and (c) after 2045 into the baseball park facilities improvement segregated fund under s. 229.687. 229.682(9)(b)(b) For purposes related to maintaining the safety of the baseball park facilities or the improvement, repair, maintenance, or replacement of the components and systems necessary to operate the baseball park facilities or to comply with applicable law, insurance requirements, or standards imposed by the professional baseball league of which the professional baseball team is a member. 229.682(10)(10) Borrowing limitations. After December 7, 2023, the district may not borrow moneys except as provided under s. 229.68 (8m). Notwithstanding anything in this subsection to the contrary, nothing in this subsection precludes the district from entering into long-term performance or service contracts, capital leases, lease purchase agreements utilizing 3rd-party financing, or similar arrangements with respect to the equipping, repair, maintenance, or improvement of baseball park facilities. 229.682(11)(11) Bonding limitations. Except as provided in s. 229.68 (8), the district may not issue bonds.
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Chs. 228-229, Populous Counties and Cities
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