AB710,335,20 (g) The An authority may employ personnel as required to perform its duties and responsibilities under civil service. The authority may appoint an executive director whose qualifications shall be are determined by the authority. The director shall also act as secretary of the authority and may have has the duties, powers and responsibilities delegated by the authority. All of the employes, including the director of the authority, shall be eligible to may participate in the same pension system, health and life insurance programs and deferred compensation programs provided for city employes and are eligible for any other benefits provided to city employes.

AB710,335,23 (5) (a) Every An authority is granted, in addition to any other powers, may exercise all powers necessary or incidental to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this section, including the power to do all of the following powers:

AB710,336,3 1. To prepare or cause to be prepared Prepare redevelopment plans and urban renewal plans and to undertake and carry out redevelopment and urban renewal projects within the corporate limits of the city in which it functions.

AB710,336,12 2. To enter Enter into any contracts determined by the authority to be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. All contracts, other than those for personal or professional services, in excess of $25,000 shall be are subject to bid and shall be awarded to the lowest qualified and competent bidder. The authority may reject any bid required under this paragraph. The authority shall advertise for bids by a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, published in the city in which the project is to be developed. If the estimated cost of a contract, other than a contract for personal or professional services, is between $3,000 and $25,000, the authority shall give a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, of the proposed work before the contract is entered into.

AB710,337,21 3. Within the boundaries of the city to, acquire by purchase, lease, eminent domain, or otherwise, any real or personal property or any interest therein in the property, together with any improvements thereon on the property, necessary or incidental to a redevelopment or urban renewal project; to hold, improve, clear or prepare for redevelopment or urban renewal any such of the property; to sell, lease, subdivide, retain or make available the property for the city's use; to mortgage or otherwise encumber or dispose of any such of the property or any interest therein; to in the property; enter into contracts with redevelopers of property containing covenants, restrictions and conditions regarding the use of such the property in accordance with a redevelopment or urban renewal plan, and such other covenants, restrictions and conditions as that the authority deems considers necessary to prevent a recurrence of blighted areas or to effectuate the purposes of this section; to make any of such covenants, restrictions, conditions or covenants running with the land and to provide appropriate remedies for any their breach thereof; to; arrange or contract for the furnishing of services, privileges, works or facilities for, or in connection with a project; to temporarily operate and maintain real property acquired by it in a project area for or in connection with a project pending the disposition of the property for such uses and purposes as that may be deemed desirable even though not in conformity with the redevelopment plan for the area; within the boundaries of the city to, enter into any building or property in any project area in order to make inspections, surveys, appraisals, soundings or test borings, and to obtain an a court order for this purpose from a court of competent jurisdiction in the event if entry is denied or resisted; to own and hold property and to insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or any of its operations against any risks or hazards, including the power to pay paying premiums on any such insurance; to invest any project funds held in reserves or sinking funds or any such the funds not required for immediate disbursement in property or securities in which savings banks may legally invest funds subject to their control; to redeem its bonds issued under this section at the redemption price established therein in the bonds or to purchase such the bonds at less than redemption price, all such bonds so redeemed or purchased to be canceled; to develop, test and report methods and techniques, and carry out demonstrations and other activities, for the prevention and elimination of slums and blight; and to disseminate blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal information.

AB710,338,7 4. a. To borrow Borrow money and issue bonds; to execute notes, debentures and other forms of indebtedness; and to apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions and any other form of financial assistance from the city in which it functions, from the federal government, the state, county, or other public body, or from any sources, public or private for the purposes of this section, and to give such security as may be required and to enter into and carry out contracts or agreements in connection therewith with the security; and to include in any contract for financial assistance with the federal government for or with respect to blight elimination and slum clearance and urban renewal such conditions imposed pursuant to federal laws as the authority deems reasonable and appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the purposes of this section.

AB710,338,10 b. Any debt or obligation of the authority shall is not be deemed the debt or obligation of the city, county, state or any other governmental authority other than the redevelopment authority itself.

AB710,340,7 c. To issue Issue bonds in its discretion to finance its activities under this section, including the payment of principal and interest upon any advances for surveys and plans, and may issue refunding bonds for the payment or retirement of such bonds previously issued by it. Such bonds Bonds shall be made payable, as to both principal and interest, solely from the income, proceeds, revenues, and funds of the authority derived from or held in connection with its undertaking and carrying out of projects or activities under this section; provided that payment. Payment of such the bonds, both as to principal and interest, may be further secured by a pledge of any loan, grant or contribution from the federal government or other source, in aid of any projects or activities of the authority under this section, and by a mortgage of any such all or a part of the projects or activities, or any part thereof. Bonds issued under this section shall are not constitute an indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction of the state, city or of any public body other than the authority issuing the bonds, and shall are not be subject to any other law or charter relating to the authorization, issuance or sale of bonds. Bonds issued under this section are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be are exempt from all taxes. Bonds issued under this section shall be authorized by resolution of the authority and, may be issued in one or more series and shall bear such a date, be payable upon demand or mature at such a time, bear interest at such a rate, be in such a denomination, be in such a form either with or without coupon or registered, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be payable in such a medium of payment, at such a place, and be subject to such terms of redemption, with or without premium, be secured in such a manner, and have such other characteristics, as is provided by the resolution, trust indenture or mortgage issued pursuant thereto to the transaction. Bonds issued under this section shall be executed as provided in s. 67.08 (1) and may be registered under s. 67.09. The bonds may be sold or exchanged at public sale or by private negotiation with bond underwriters as the authority may provide provides. The bonds may be sold or exchanged at such any price or prices as that the authority shall determine determines. If sold or exchanged at public sale, the sale shall be held after a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, published prior to such before the sale in a newspaper having general circulation in the city and in such any other medium of publication as that the authority determines. Such bonds Bonds may be sold to the federal government at private sale, without publication of any notice, at not less than par, and, if less than all of the authorized principal amount of such the bonds is sold to the federal government, the balance may be sold at private sale at not less than par at an interest cost to the authority of that does not to exceed the interest cost to the authority of the portion of the bonds sold to the federal government. Any provision of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds issued pursuant to under this section shall be are fully negotiable. In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforceability of any bond issued under this section or the security therefor for any bond, any such bond reciting in substance that it has been issued by the authority in connection with a project or activity under this section shall be conclusively is deemed to have been issued for such that purpose and such the project or activity shall be conclusively is deemed to have been planned, located and carried out in accordance with this section.

AB710,340,15 5. To establish Establish a procedure for preservation of the records of the authority by the use of microfilm, another reproductive device, optical imaging or electronic formatting, if authorized under s. 19.21 (4) (c). Any such The procedure shall assure that copies of such the records that are open to public inspection continue to be available to members of the public requesting them. A photographic reproduction of a record or copy of a record generated from optical disk or electronic storage is deemed the same as an original record for all purposes if it meets the applicable standards established in ss. 16.61 and 16.612.

AB710,340,20 6. The Authorize the chairperson of the authority or the vice chairperson in the absence of the chairperson, selected by vote of the commissioners, and the executive director or the assistant director in the absence of the executive director is authorized to execute on behalf of the authority all contracts, notes and other forms of obligation when authorized by at least 4 of the commissioners of the authority to do so.

AB710,340,23 7. The authority is authorized to commence Commence actions in its own name and. The authority shall be sued in the name of the authority. The authority shall have an official seal.

AB710,340,25 8. To exercise such Exercise other and further powers as that may be required or necessary in order to effectuate the purposes hereof of this section.

AB710,341,3 9. To exercise Exercise any powers of a housing authority under s. 66.40 66.1201 if done in concert with a housing authority under a contract under s. 66.30 66.0301.

AB710,341,20 (b) 4. The authority may acquire by purchase real property within any area designated for urban renewal or redevelopment purposes under this section prior to before the approval of either the redevelopment or urban renewal plans or prior to before any modification of the plan, providing if approval of such the acquisition is granted by the local governing body. In the event of the acquisition of such real property If real property is acquired, the authority may demolish or remove structures so acquired with the approval of the local governing body. In the event that If acquired real property so acquired is not made part of the urban renewal project the authority shall bear any loss that may arise as a result of the acquisition, demolition or removal of structures acquired under this section; however, the local legislative body if it. If the local legislative body has given its approval to the acquisition of such real property that is not made a part of the urban renewal project, it shall reimburse the authority for any loss sustained as provided for in this subsection. Any real property acquired in a redevelopment or in an urban renewal area pursuant to under this subsection may be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of under this section providing if the local governing body has approved the acquisition of the property for the project.

AB710,342,5 (c) 1r. Condemnation proceedings for the acquisition of blighted property shall be conducted under ch. 32 or under any other law relating specifically to eminent domain procedures of authorities. The authority may hold, clear, construct, manage, improve or dispose of the blighted property, for the purpose of eliminating its status as blighted property. Notwithstanding sub. (9), the authority may dispose of the blighted property in any manner. The authority may assist private acquisition, improvement and development of blighted property for the purpose of eliminating its status as blighted property, and for that purpose the authority shall have has all of the duties, rights, powers and privileges given to the authority under this section, as if it had acquired the blighted property.

AB710,343,10 2. Prior to Before acquiring blighted property under subd. 1. or 1g., the authority shall hold a public hearing to determine if the property is blighted property. Notice of such the hearing, describing the time, date, place and purpose of the hearing and generally identifying the property involved, shall be given to each owner of the property, at least 20 days prior to before the date set for the hearing, by certified mail with return receipt requested. If the notice cannot be delivered by certified mail with return receipt requested, or if the notice is returned undelivered, notice may be given by posting the notice at least 10 days prior to before the date of hearing on any structure located on the property which is the subject of the notice. If the property which is the subject of the notice consists of vacant land, a notice may be posted in some suitable and conspicuous place on that property. For the purpose of ascertaining the name of the owner or owners of record of property which is subject to a public hearing under this subdivision, the records of the register of deeds of the county in which such the property is located, as of the date of the notice required under this subdivision, shall be deemed are conclusive. An affidavit of mailing or posting the notice which is filed as a part of the records of the authority shall be deemed is prima facie evidence of that notice. In the hearing under this subdivision, all interested parties may express their views respecting on the authority's proposed determination, but the hearing is only for informational purposes. Any technical omission or error in the procedure specified under this subdivision does not invalidate the designation or subsequent acquisition. If any owner of property subject to the authority's determination that the property is blighted property objects to that determination or to the authority's acquisition of that property, that owner shall file a written statement of his or her and reasons for the objections and the reasons for those objections with the authority prior to before, at the time of, or within 15 days after the public hearing under this subdivision. Such The statement shall contain the mailing address of the person filing the statement and be signed by or on behalf of that person. The filing of that statement shall be is a condition precedent to the commencement of an action to contest the authority's actions under this paragraph.

AB710, s. 445 Section 445. 66.431 (5r) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act 9, is renumbered 66.1333 (5r).

AB710, s. 446 Section 446. 66.431 (6) to (17) of the statutes are renumbered 66.1333 (6) to (17), and 66.1333 (6) (a) to (e), (9) (a) 1. a. and c. and (b) to (f) and (10) to (17), as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB710,344,3 66.1333 (6) (a) The authority may make or cause to be made and prepare or cause to be prepared a comprehensive plan of redevelopment and urban renewal which shall be consistent with the general plan of the city, including the appropriate maps, tables, charts and descriptive and analytical matter. Such The plan is intended to serve as a general framework or guide of development within which the various area and redevelopment and urban renewal projects may be more precisely planned and calculated. The comprehensive plan shall include at least a land use plan which designates the proposed general distribution and general locations and extents of the uses of the land for housing, business, industry, recreation, education, public buildings, public reservations and other general categories of public and private uses of the land. The authority is authorized to may make or have made all other surveys and plans necessary under this section, and to adopt or approve, modify and amend such the plans.

AB710,344,6 (b) For the exercise of the powers granted and for the acquisition and disposition of real property in a project area, the following steps and plans shall be requisite are required:

AB710,344,23 1. Designation by the authority of the boundaries of the proposed project area, submission of such the boundaries to the local legislative body, and adoption of a resolution by two-thirds of such the local legislative body declaring such the area to be a blighted area in need of a blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal project. Thereafter After these acts, the local legislative body may, by resolution by two-thirds vote, prohibit for an initial period of not to exceed 6 months from enactment of such the resolution any new construction in such the area except upon resolution by the local legislative body that such the proposed new construction, on such reasonable conditions as may be fixed therein stated in the resolution, will not substantially prejudice the preparation or processing of a plan for the area and is necessary to avoid substantial damage to the applicant. Such The order of prohibition shall be is subject to successive renewals for like periods by like resolutions;, but no new construction contrary to any such resolution of prohibition shall may be authorized by any agency, board or commission of the city in such the area except as herein provided in this subdivision. No such prohibition of new construction shall may be construed to forbid ordinary repair or maintenance, or improvement necessary to continue occupancy under any regulatory order.

AB710,345,15 2. Approval by the authority and by two-thirds of the local legislative body of the redevelopment plan of the project area which has been prepared by the authority. Such The redevelopment plan shall conform to the general plan of the city and shall be sufficiently complete to indicate its relationship to definite local objectives as to appropriate land uses, improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities, and other public improvements in the project area, and. The redevelopment plan shall include, without being limited to, a statement of the boundaries of the project area; a map showing existing uses and conditions of real property therein; a land use plan showing proposed uses of the area; information showing the standards of population density, land coverage and building intensity in the area after redevelopment; present and potential equalized value for property tax purposes; a statement of proposed changes, if any, in zoning ordinances or maps and building codes and ordinances; a statement as to the kind and number of site improvements and additional public utilities which will be required to support the new land uses in the area after redevelopment; and a statement of a feasible method proposed for the relocation of families to be displaced from the project area.

AB710,347,3 3. Approval of a redevelopment plan of a project area by the authority , which may be given only after a public hearing conducted by the authority and a finding by the authority that such the plan is feasible and in conformity with the general plan of the city. Notice of such the hearing, describing the time, date, place and purpose of the hearing and generally identifying the project area, shall be published as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, the last insertion to be at least 10 days prior to before the date set for the hearing. In addition thereto, at At least 20 days prior to before the date set for the hearing on the proposed redevelopment plan of the project area a notice shall be transmitted by certified mail, with return receipt requested, to each owner of real property of record within the boundaries of the redevelopment plan. If transmission of such the notice by certified mail with return receipt requested cannot be accomplished, or if the letter is returned undelivered, then notice may be given by posting the same notice at least 10 days prior to before the date of hearing on any structure located on the property; or, if such the property consists of vacant land, a notice may be posted in some suitable and conspicuous place on such the land. Such The notice shall state the time and place at which the hearing will be held with respect to the redevelopment plan and that the owner's property might be taken for urban renewal. For the purpose of ascertaining the name of the owner of record of the real property within such the project boundaries, the records, at the time of the approval by the redevelopment authority of the project boundaries, of the register of deeds of the county in which such the property is located shall be deemed are conclusive. Failure to receive such the notice shall does not invalidate the plan. An affidavit of mailing or posting of such the notice or posting thereof filed as a part of the records of the authority shall be deemed is prima facie evidence of the giving of such notice. All interested parties shall be afforded a full opportunity to express their views respecting on the proposed plan at such the public hearing, but the hearing shall only be for the purpose of assisting the authority in making its determination and in submitting its report to the local legislative body. Any technical omission in the procedure outlined herein shall in this subdivision does not be deemed to invalidate the plan. Any owner of property included within the boundaries of the redevelopment plan and objecting who objects to such the plan shall be required to state the owner's objections and the reasons therefor for objecting, in writing, and file the same document with the authority either prior to before the public hearing, at the time of the public hearing, or within 15 days thereafter, but not subsequently thereto after the hearing. The owner shall state his or her mailing address and sign his or her name thereto. The filing of such objections in writing shall be is a condition precedent to the commencement of an action to contest the right of the redevelopment authority to condemn the property under s. 32.06 (5).

AB710,347,8 (c) In relation to the location and extent of public works and utilities, public buildings and public uses in a comprehensive plan or a project area plan, the authority is directed to shall confer with the planning commission and with such other public officials, boards, authorities and agencies of the city under whose administrative jurisdictions such these uses respectively fall.

AB710,347,16 (d) At any time after such After the redevelopment plan has been approved both by the authority and the local legislative body, it may be amended by resolution adopted by the authority, and such the amendment shall be submitted to the local legislative body for its approval by a two-thirds vote before the same shall become it becomes effective. It shall is not be required in connection with any amendment to the redevelopment plan, unless the boundaries described in the plan are altered to include other property, that the provisions in this subsection with respect to public hearing and notice be followed.

AB710,348,4 (e) After a project area redevelopment plan of a project area has been adopted by the authority, and the local legislative body has by a two-thirds vote approved the redevelopment plan the authority may at any time certify said the plan to the local legislative body, whereupon. After certification, the authority shall proceed to exercise the powers granted to it for the acquisition and assembly of the real property of the area. The local legislative body shall upon the certification of such the plan by the authority direct that no new construction shall be permitted, and thereafter. After this direction, no new construction shall may be authorized by any agencies, boards or commissions of the city in such the area unless as authorized by the local legislative body, including substantial remodeling or conversion or rebuilding, enlargement, or extension or major structural improvements on existing buildings, but not including ordinary maintenance or remodeling or changes necessary to continue the occupancy.

AB710,348,15 (9) (a) 1. a. Upon the acquisition of any or all of the real property in the project area, the authority has power to may lease, sell or otherwise transfer to a redevelopment company, association, corporation or public body, or to an individual, limited liability company or partnership, all or any part of the real property, including streets or parts thereof of streets to be closed or vacated in accordance with the plan, for use in accordance with the redevelopment plan. No assembled lands of the project area shall may be either sold or leased by the authority to a housing authority created under s. 66.40 66.1201 for the purpose of constructing public housing projects upon such the land unless the sale or lease of the lands has been first approved by the local legislative body by a vote of not less than four-fifths of the members elected.

AB710,348,19 c. A copy of the redevelopment plan shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds in the county where the redevelopment project is located. Any amendment to the redevelopment plan, approved as herein provided for under sub. (6), shall also be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county.

AB710,348,23 (b) Any such A lease or sale may be made without public bidding, but only after public hearing is held by the authority after a notice to be is published as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, and the. The hearing shall be predicated upon the proposed sale or lease and the provisions thereof of the sale or lease.