Chapter 64

64.09(2) (2) The city manager shall be elected purely on merit. In electing the city manager the council shall give due regard to training, experience, executive and administrative ability, and efficiency and general qualifications and fitness for performing the duties of the office, and no person shall be eligible to the office of city manager who is not by training, experience, ability, and efficiency well qualified and generally fit to perform the duties of such office. No weight or consideration shall be given by the council to nationality, political, or religious affiliations, or to any other considerations except merit and direct qualifications for the office.

64.09(3) (3) Residence in the city or state shall not be a qualification for the office of city manager.

64.09(4) (4) The council may advertise for applicants in such newspapers, magazines, advertising agencies, employment bureaus or other advertising mediums and for such length of time as it shall deem necessary to secure applications from the available persons best qualified to fill such office.

64.09(5) (5) Except as provided in s. 19.36 (7), the applications, records, recommendations and qualifications of all applicants for the office of city manager shall be immediately placed and thereafter kept on file and shall be matters of public record and open to the examination and inspection of the public at all reasonable times.

64.09(6) (6) The salary of the city manager shall be fixed by the council.

64.09(7) (7) The council shall have the power to remove the city manager at any time that the city manager’s conduct of the city administration becomes unsatisfactory and to engage a successor after the manner prescribed in this section, but such city manager shall serve until a successor is elected and qualifies.

64.09(8) (8) Before the council shall remove the city manager for any cause other than willful neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misfeasance in office, it shall give such city manager at least 60 days’ notice of its contemplated action and in all cases shall present in writing a statement of the specific grounds or reasons for such removal and shall give such city manager an opportunity to be heard in regard thereto. Such statement of reasons shall be immediately placed and thereafter kept on file and shall be matter of public record open to the examination and inspection of the public at all reasonable times, and such hearing shall be a public hearing.

64.09(9) (9) The action of the council in removing the city manager shall be final.

64.09(10) (10) In case of vacancy in the office of city manager by reason of removal, resignation or other cause the council may elect an acting city manager for a period of not exceeding 6 months to fill the vacancy while considering the selection of a city manager. Provided, if the council is unable within such 6 months’ period to secure a qualified city manager specified in this section it may by a majority vote of its members present at any regular meeting extend the employment of such acting city manager or elect another acting city manager for an additional 6 months. The acting city manager shall have all the powers and perform all the functions of city manager. The acting city manager may be removed by the council without cause or regard to sub. (8) and such removal shall be final.

64.09 History History: 1991 a. 269, 316.

64.10 64.10 City departments, boards and commissions.

64.10(1) (1) The council shall upon the report and recommendation of the city manager have the power to create general departments of city administration. The report and recommendations of the city manager showing the necessity or desirability of creating such departments shall be placed on file and shall be matters of public record, open to the examination and inspection of the public at all reasonable times.

64.10(2) (2) All administrative boards and commissions existing in the city prior to its reorganization shall continue to exist after its reorganization under this subchapter until abolished, altered or reorganized by ordinance of the council. The council may, upon receipt of the report and recommendation of the city manager, alter, reorganize or abolish by ordinance any administrative board or commission except the board of police and fire commissioners.

64.10 History History: 1985 a. 225.

64.105 64.105 Optional powers. Any city or village which has determined by ordinance or petition and referendum to operate under the city manager form of government may by charter ordinance allocate powers to the council, president of the council and city manager in a manner other than provided by this chapter.

64.11 64.11 Powers of city manager, appointments.

64.11(1) (1) The city manager shall be the chief executive officer of the city and head of the city administration and shall possess and exercise all the executive and general administrative powers imposed and conferred by general law or special charter upon the mayor and common council and upon the various boards, commissions and officers and in force in such city at the time of its reorganization under ss. 64.01 to 64.15, and such additional powers as are herein imposed and conferred.

64.11(2) (2) The city manager shall have the power to create minor administrative offices and positions and to discontinue such offices and positions according to the city manager’s judgment of the needs of the city.

64.11(3) (3) The city manager shall have the power to appoint all heads of departments, all subordinate city officials and all city employees and to remove such appointees at any time their services or the conduct of their offices becomes unsatisfactory to the city manager. This subsection shall not be construed as depriving the board of fire and police commissioners or the chiefs of fire or police departments of any city of all the powers conferred by s. 62.13.

64.11(4) (4) No head of a department, city official, or city employee shall be appointed for a fixed term, but during good behavior and satisfactory service.

64.11(5) (5) All appointments shall be purely on merit and with a view to securing the best available appointee for the place. Due consideration shall be given to training, experience, ability, and general qualifications and fitness for performing the duties of the office and no weight or consideration shall be given to residence, nationality, or to political or religious affiliations.

64.11(6) (6) Residence in the city or state shall not be a qualification for any such appointment.

64.11(7) (7) Except as provided in s. 19.36 (7), the applications, records, recommendations and qualifications of all applicants shall be immediately placed and thereafter kept on file and shall be matters of public record subject to the examination and inspection of the public at all reasonable times.

64.11(8) (8) In the event that such a city has established under the provisions of s. 66.0509 a civil service system, then the powers and duties of the city manager as provided in this section shall be limited and governed by such rules and regulations as may be promulgated under such civil service system.

64.11 History History: 1991 a. 269, 316; 1999 a. 150 s. 672.

64.12 64.12 City manager to present monthly reports and accounts.

64.12(1) (1) The city manager shall each month prepare and present to the council a summarized statement of the income and expenditures of the city for the preceding month arranged in standard form and detailed as to appropriations, funds, and character of expenditures.

64.12(2) (2) Such summaries shall be accompanied by a general account balance sheet, a capital account balance sheet, a statement of current assets and liabilities, a statement of funded assets and liabilities, and a consolidated financial statement showing the exact financial condition of the city at the end of such month. The city manager shall also prepare and present to the council such other detailed schedules and statements of account as the council may by ordinance require.

64.12(3) (3) All such summaries, schedules, and statements, together with a summary of the acts and proceedings of the common council for such month, shall be published in pamphlet form and copies thereof shall be furnished to all the newspapers and libraries of the city and to all persons who shall apply therefor.

64.12(4) (4) At the end of each fiscal year the council shall cause a full and complete examination of all the books and accounts of the city to be made by competent certified public accountants licensed or certified under ch. 442 who shall report in full to the council. The summaries of such audits shall be presented and furnished to all newspapers and libraries of the city and to such other persons as shall apply therefor.

64.12 History History: 2001 a. 16.

64.13 64.13 First council may revise appropriations already made; state commission work continued.

64.13(1) (1) If at the beginning of the term of office of the first council elected under ss. 64.01 to 64.15 the appropriations for the expenditures of the city government for the current fiscal year have been made, the council shall have power by ordinance to revise, repeal, or change such appropriations and to make additional appropriations.

64.13(2) (2) Any city work done under the direction of commissions appointed by the state shall continue to be done in the manner prescribed by law prior to the reorganization of such city under ss. 64.01 to 64.15.

64.14 64.14 City may return to its former government. Any city which shall have adopted the provisions of ss. 64.01 to 64.15 may abandon the same and reorganize under the provisions of ch. 62 or ss. 64.25 to 64.40, or under a home rule charter by proceeding in accordance with the provisions of s. 64.01.

64.15 64.15 Village manager plan. The provisions of ss. 64.01 to 64.14 shall also apply to villages, and such plan shall be known in villages as the village manager plan. Provided, however, that in villages adopting such plan, the council shall be composed of the board of trustees.

subch. II of ch. 64 SUBCHAPTER II

COMMISSION GOVERNMENT

64.25 64.25 City commission plan; adoption; cities applicable to. Any city of the second, third or fourth class may reorganize under the provisions of ss. 64.25 to 64.40, either by enactment of a charter ordinance or by a petition and referendum election as provided by s. 66.0101. Such petition and election shall be governed by s. 9.20 (1) to (6).

64.25 History History: 1999 a. 150 s. 672.

64.26 64.26 Terms of officers in commission cities. The term of office of the mayor and alderpersons of any city so adopting the commission form of government shall end on the third Tuesday in April next succeeding the first municipal election held after such adoption.

64.26 History History: 1993 a. 184; 2011 a. 257.

64.27 64.27 Law applicable; existing ordinances, etc.; territorial limits; vested rights; liabilities.

64.27(1) (1) Any law applicable to any city before its reorganization and not inconsistent with the provisions of ss. 64.25 to 64.40, shall apply to and govern such reorganized city.

64.27(2) (2) Any bylaw, ordinance or resolution lawfully passed and in force in any such city at the time of its reorganization shall remain in force until altered or repealed by the council elected under the provisions of ss. 64.25 to 64.40.

64.27(3) (3) The territorial limits of such city shall remain the same as under its former organization.

64.27(4) (4) All rights and property of every description which were vested in such city under its former organization shall remain the same under the reorganization herein contemplated.

64.27(5) (5) No right or liability either in favor of or against such reorganized city, and no suit or prosecution of any kind, shall be affected by such change of government unless otherwise provided in ss. 64.25 to 64.40.

64.28 64.28 Election of mayor and council members; terms; eligibility.

64.28(1) (1) At the election held, as provided by law, upon the first Tuesday in April next succeeding the adoption of the provisions of ss. 64.25 to 64.40, there shall be elected a council consisting of a mayor and 2 other members. Any person possessing all the qualifications of an elector in such city other than the qualification of residence therein shall be eligible to election as mayor or other member of the council, but no person who holds a license for the sale of intoxicating liquors shall be eligible to any such office. Both the mayor and the council members shall be nominated and elected by the voters of the city at large.

64.28(2) (2) The term of mayor shall be 6 years, and the terms of the other members of the council elected at the first election after the adoption of ss. 64.25 to 64.40, shall be 2 and 4 years, respectively, and each term shall begin on the third Tuesday of April next succeeding the election. At the first meeting of the council after such election, the other 2 members of the council shall by lot determine who shall hold the long and who the short term. At the expiration of their respective terms, successors shall be elected whose terms of office shall be 6 years.

64.28(3) (3) In all cities of 15,000 or more population, the mayor and other members of the council, except council members elected pursuant to s. 64.39, shall devote their entire time to the performance of their official duties.

64.28 History History: 1985 a. 135 s. 83 (2); 1995 a. 16 s. 2.

64.29 64.29 Council; powers; duties; president; quorum; vote.

64.29(1) (1) If any city shall adopt the provisions of ss. 64.25 to 64.40, all duties, liabilities, authority, powers and privileges theretofore imposed or conferred by general law or special charter upon the mayor and council of such city shall be deemed to be conferred and imposed upon the mayor and the council members provided for by ss. 64.25 to 64.40, and all laws relating or referring to such mayor and council members in force at the time of the adoption of the provisions of ss. 64.25 to 64.40 shall apply to and be deemed to relate and refer to the mayor and council.

64.29(2) (2) The mayor shall be president of the council, and have a vote therein, but shall have no power of veto. On the first Tuesday in May following the reorganization of any city under ss. 64.25 to 64.40, and biennially thereafter, or whenever there shall be a vacancy in the office, the council shall elect one of its members vice mayor, who in the absence or disability of the mayor for any cause, shall perform all the duties thereof.

64.29(3) (3) A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of the members of the council shall be necessary, and no more than a majority shall be required, to adopt any ordinance, resolution or motion, including all ordinances, resolutions and motions which under the aldermanic or any other system of city government requires a three-fourths vote for the adoption thereof.

64.29(4) (4) The ayes and nays shall be called and recorded upon every vote, and no vote shall be taken except upon a motion, a resolution or ordinance reduced to writing.

64.29(5) (5) All boards and commissions created and existing under laws heretofore in force in any such city shall continue to exist, and all powers, authority, jurisdiction and duties conferred and imposed upon such boards and commissions shall remain unaffected by ss. 64.25 to 64.40, except that the mayor may not be a member of any such board or commission because of holding office as mayor.

64.29(6) (6) On the first Tuesday in May following the reorganization of any city as provided under this subchapter, and annually thereafter, the council shall select from among its members a person to act as a member of each of the city’s boards and commissions. Each member selected shall have all the power and authority vested by law in any other member of the board or commission, and shall serve as a member thereof so long as he or she remains in office or until the council selects a successor.

64.29 History History: 1979 c. 110; 1985 a. 135 s. 83 (2); 1985 a. 225.

64.30 64.30 Organization of city government.

64.30(1) (1) The council may create any general department of city affairs, such as:

64.30(1)(a) (a) Public finance and accounts.

64.30(1)(b) (b) Public health, safety and sanitation.

64.30(1)(c) (c) Streets and public improvements.

64.30(1)(d) (d) Public property.

64.30(1)(e) (e) Public charities and corrections.

64.30(1m) (1m) The council may designate one of its members as the head of a general department created under sub. (1). A department head may be changed whenever it appears that the public service would be benefited thereby.

64.30(2) (2) At its first meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible, the council shall appoint, by a majority vote, a city clerk, a corporation counsel, a comptroller, a treasurer, a superintendent of streets, an assessor and such other officers and assistants as are necessary to the efficient conduct of the affairs of the city, and shall fix the terms of service and salaries of all such officers. Any member of the council in cities of the third and fourth classes may hold any office included within this subsection in addition to the office as a member of the council. The council in any such city may, by majority vote, appoint the mayor or any council member to any of such offices. The mayor or council member, serving under any such appointment, shall receive no compensation therefor and, as such appointee, shall be subject to all provisions of law applicable to any person holding such office.

64.30 History History: 1985 a. 135; 1995 a. 225.

64.31 64.31 Salaries.

64.31(2) (2) Cities which have not by ordinance established such salaries shall fix the salaries of council members and mayor at the earliest date legally possible.

64.31(4) (4) The council may at any regular meeting increase or decrease the salary of the members of the council, including the mayor, by an amount not to exceed 20 percent of the salary established prior to the commencement of the term to which such increase or decrease is applicable.

64.31 History History: 1985 a. 135 s. 83 (2); 2009 a. 177.

64.32 64.32 Offices; council may create or abolish. The council may from time to time create and fill offices and fix the term of service and salaries other than those described in s. 64.31 and discontinue any office so created or any office included within s. 64.30 according to their judgment of the needs of the city.

64.33 64.33 Meetings.

64.33(1) (1) The council shall provide by ordinance for the time of holding regular meetings, and special meetings may be called by the mayor or by the 2 council members.

64.33(2) (2) The meetings of the council or of any committee thereof whether regular or special, to which any person not a city officer is admitted shall be open to the public.

64.33 History History: 1985 a. 135 s. 83 (2).

64.34 64.34 City comptroller; financial statement; publication; annual examination.

64.34(1) (1) The city comptroller shall each month prepare and present to the council a summary statement of the revenues and expenses of the city for the preceding month, detailed as to appropriations and funds, and arranged in standard form, together with a balance sheet statement of the current assets and current liabilities of such city at the close of such month. These summaries shall be accompanied by such detailed schedules as the council may by ordinance require. The full detailed acts and proceedings of the council at every general or special meeting thereof, including the full text of all reports filed and presented at such meeting, shall be published as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, subsequent to the day of each such council meeting; and in the months of January, April, July and October the council shall cause to be published as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, detailed schedules of the receipts and disbursements of moneys for the 3 calendar months next preceding the month of such publication. The compensation to be paid for such publications shall not exceed the rate provided by law for the publication of legal notices.

64.34(2) (2) At the end of each year the council shall cause a full and complete examination of all of the books and accounts of the city to be made by competent certified public accountants licensed or certified under ch. 442, who shall report in full thereon to the council. Copies of such reports shall be furnished by the council to all newspapers of the city and to all persons who shall apply therefor.

64.34 History History: 2001 a. 16.

64.35 64.35 Existing appropriations; powers concerning. If, at the beginning of the term of office of the first council elected under ss. 64.25 to 64.40, the appropriation for the expenditures of the city government for the current fiscal year have been made, the council shall have power by ordinance to revise, repeal or change such appropriations and to make additional appropriations.

64.36 64.36 Boards and commissions.

64.36(1) (1) The board of public works shall continue as constituted, or it shall be composed of such city officers as the council shall designate, or the council may act as a board of public works, or the board may be dispensed with and the functions thereof exercised by the council, as may be provided by ordinance.

64.36(2) (2) Any other board or commission, except the board of police and fire commissioners, may be dispensed with or the number of members thereof be changed by a vote of the people held in the manner provided by s. 9.20, and in case of discontinuance the powers and duties of any such board or commission, shall be exercised and performed by the council. Unless the board of public works shall be dispensed with or changed by ordinance, or other boards or commissions shall be dispensed with by such vote of the people, they shall continue to have and perform the same powers and functions that they possessed and exercised at the time when the city adopted the commission form of government, and shall continue to be elected or appointed as then provided by law, except that members then appointed by the mayor shall be elected by a majority vote of the council like other city officers under s. 64.30.

64.36(3) (3) Any city work done under the direction of commissions appointed by the state shall continue to be done in the manner prescribed by law immediately prior to the adoption by the city of the commission form of government.