Chapter 16

16.967(1)(b) (b) “Land information” means any physical, legal, economic, or environmental information or characteristics concerning land, water, groundwater, subsurface resources, or air in this state. “Land information” includes information relating to topography, soil, soil erosion, geology, minerals, vegetation, land cover, wildlife, associated natural resources, land ownership, land use, land use controls and restrictions, jurisdictional boundaries, tax assessment, land value, land survey records and references, geodetic control networks, aerial photographs, maps, planimetric data, remote sensing data, historic and prehistoric sites, and economic projections.

16.967(1)(c) (c) “Land information system” means an orderly method of organizing and managing land information and land records.

16.967(1)(d) (d) “Land records” means maps, documents, computer files, and any other information storage medium in which land information is recorded.

16.967(1)(e) (e) “Systems integration” means land information that is housed in one jurisdiction or jurisdictional subunit and is available to other jurisdictions, jurisdictional subunits, public utilities, and other private sector interests.

16.967(3) (3) Duties of department. The department shall direct and supervise the land information program and serve as the state clearinghouse for access to land information. In addition, the department shall:

16.967(3)(a) (a) Provide technical assistance and advice to state agencies and local governmental units with land information responsibilities.

16.967(3)(b) (b) Maintain and distribute an inventory of land information available for this state, land records available for this state, and land information systems.

16.967(3)(c) (c) Prepare guidelines to coordinate the modernization of land records and land information systems.

16.967(3)(cm) (cm) Provide standards for the preparation of countywide plans for land records modernization under s. 59.72 (3) (b), including a list of minimum elements to be addressed in the plan.

16.967(3)(d) (d) Review project applications received under sub. (7) and determine which projects are approved.

16.967(3)(e) (e) Review for approval a countywide plan for land records modernization prepared under s. 59.72 (3) (b).

16.967(3)(f) (f) Review reports received under s. 59.72 (2) (b) and determine whether county expenditures of funds received under sub. (7) and s. 59.72 (5) (b) have been made for authorized purposes.

16.967(3)(g) (g) Post reports received under s. 59.72 (2) (b) on the Internet.

16.967(3)(h) (h) Establish an implementation plan for a statewide digital parcel map.

16.967(4) (4) Funding report. The department shall identify and study possible program revenue sources or other revenue sources for the purpose of funding the operations of the land information program, including grants to counties under sub. (7).

16.967(6) (6) Reports.

16.967(6)(a) (a) By March 31 of each year, the department of administration, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the department of safety and professional services, the department of health services, the department of natural resources, the department of tourism, the department of revenue, the department of transportation, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the public service commission, and the board of curators of the historical society shall each submit to the department a plan to integrate land information to enable such information to be readily translatable, retrievable, and geographically referenced for use by any state, local governmental unit, or public utility. Upon receipt of this information, the department shall integrate the information to enable the information to be used to meet land information data needs. The integrated information shall be readily translatable, retrievable, and geographically referenced to enable members of the public to use the information.

16.967(6)(b) (b) No later than January 1, 2017, the department shall submit to the members of the joint committee on finance a report on the progress in developing a statewide digital parcel map.

16.967(7) (7) Aid to counties.

16.967(7)(a) (a) A county board that has established a county land information office under s. 59.72 (3) may apply to the department on behalf of any local governmental unit, as defined in s. 59.72 (1) (c), located wholly or partially within the county for a grant for any of the following projects, except that a county shall complete the project under subd. 1. and make public records in the land information system accessible on the Internet before the county may expend any grant moneys under this paragraph for any other purpose:

16.967(7)(a)1. 1. The design, development, and implementation of a land information system that contains and integrates, at a minimum, property and ownership records with boundary information, including a parcel identifier referenced to the U.S. public land survey; tax and assessment information; soil surveys, if available; wetlands identified by the department of natural resources; a modern geodetic reference system; current zoning restrictions; and restrictive covenants.

16.967(7)(a)2. 2. The preparation of parcel property maps that refer boundaries to the public land survey system and are suitable for use by local governmental units for accurate land title boundary line or land survey line information.

16.967(7)(a)2m. 2m. In coordination with the department, the creation, maintenance, or updating of a digital parcel map.

16.967(7)(a)3. 3. The preparation of maps that include a statement documenting accuracy if the maps do not refer boundaries to the public land survey system and that are suitable for use by local governmental units for planning purposes.

16.967(7)(a)4. 4. Systems integration projects.

16.967(7)(a)5. 5. To support technological developments and improvements for the purpose of providing Internet-accessible housing assessment and sales data.

16.967(7)(am) (am)

16.967(7)(am)1. 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the department shall award land information system base budget grants for eligible projects under par. (a) to enable a county land information office to develop, maintain, and operate a basic land information system.

16.967(7)(am)2. 2. The minimum amount of a grant under this paragraph is determined by subtracting the amount of fees that the county retained under s. 59.72 (5) (b) in the preceding fiscal year from $100,000. The department is not required to award a grant to a county that retained at least $100,000 in fees under s. 59.72 (5) (b) in the preceding fiscal year.

16.967(7)(am)3. 3. If the moneys available for grants under this paragraph in a fiscal year are insufficient to pay all amounts determined under subd. 2., the department shall establish a system to prorate the grants.

16.967(7)(b) (b) In addition to any other grant received under this subsection, the department may award a grant to any county in an amount not less than $1,000 per year to be used for the training and education of county employees for the design, development, and implementation of a land information system.

16.967(7m) (7m) Suspension of aid.

16.967(7m)(a) (a) If the department determines that grants under sub. (7) or retained fees under s. 59.72 (5) (b) have been used for unauthorized purposes, the department shall notify the county or local governmental unit of the determination. The notice shall include a listing of unauthorized expenditures. The county or local governmental unit shall have not less than 30 days to contest the determination or resolve the unauthorized expenditures. If the unauthorized expenditures are not resolved in a manner acceptable to the department, the department may suspend the eligibility of the county or local governmental unit that made unauthorized expenditures to receive further grants or to retain further fee revenues.

16.967(7m)(b) (b) If the department determines that a county has violated s. 59.72, the department shall suspend the eligibility of the county to receive grants under sub. (7) and, after June 30, 2017, the county shall be eligible to retain only $6 of the portion of each fee submitted to the department under s. 59.72 (5) (a). After not less than one year, if the department determines that the county has resolved the violation, the department may reinstate the eligibility of the county for grants under sub. (7) and for retaining $8 of the portion of each fee submitted to the department under s. 59.72 (5) (a).

16.967(8) (8) Advice; cooperation. In carrying out its duties under this section, the department may seek advice and assistance from the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System and other agencies, local governmental units, and other experts involved in collecting and managing land information. Agencies shall cooperate with the department in the coordination of land information collection.

16.967(9) (9) Technical assistance; education. The department may provide technical assistance to counties and conduct educational seminars, courses, or conferences relating to land information. The department shall charge and collect fees sufficient to recover the costs of activities authorized under this subsection.

16.967 History History: 1989 a. 31, 339; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 ss. 403, 9116 (5), 9126 (19); 1995 a. 201; 1997 a. 27 ss. 141am to 141an, 9456 (3m); 1999 a. 9 ss. 114m, 114n, 9401 (2zu); 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33 ss. 2811, 2813; 2003 a. 48 ss. 10, 11; 2003 a. 206 s. 23; 2005 a. 25 ss. 92, 2493, 2495; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 314; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20.

16.967 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 47, Wis. adm. code.

16.9675 16.9675 Land activities. The department shall do all of the following:

16.9675(1) (1) Identify state land use goals and recommend these goals to the governor.

16.9675(2) (2) Identify state land use priorities to further the state’s land use goals and recommend to the governor legislation to implement these priorities.

16.9675(3) (3) Study areas of cooperation and coordination in the state’s land use statutes and recommend to the governor legislation to harmonize these statutes to further the state’s land use goals.

16.9675(4) (4) Study areas of the state’s land use statutes that conflict with each other and recommend to the governor legislation to resolve these conflicts to further the state’s land use goals.

16.9675(5) (5) Identify areas of the state’s land use statutes that conflict with county or municipal land use ordinances, and areas of county or municipal land use ordinances that conflict with each other, and recommend to the governor legislation to resolve these conflicts.

16.9675(6) (6) Establish a state agency resource working group that is composed of representatives of the departments of administration; agriculture, trade and consumer protection; commerce; natural resources; revenue; transportation; and other appropriate agencies to discuss, analyze, and address land use issues and related policy issues, including the following:

16.9675(6)(a) (a) Gathering information about the land use plans of state agencies.

16.9675(6)(b) (b) Establishing procedures for the distribution of the information gathered under par. (a) to other state agencies, local units of government, and private persons.

16.9675(6)(c) (c) Creating a system to facilitate, and to provide training and technical assistance for the development of, local intergovernmental land use planning.

16.9675(7) (7) Study the activities of local units of government in the land use area to determine how these activities impact on state land use goals, and recommend to the governor legislation that fosters coordination between local land use activities and state land use goals.

16.9675(8) (8) Identify procedures for facilitating local land use planning efforts, including training and technical assistance for local units of government, and recommend to the governor legislation to implement such procedures.

16.9675(9) (9) Gather and analyze information about the land use activities in this state of the federal government and American Indian governments and inform the governor of the impact of these activities on state land use goals.

16.9675(10) (10) Study any other issues that are reasonably related to the state’s land use goals, including methods for alternative dispute resolution for disputes involving land use issues, and recommend to the governor legislation in the areas studied by the department that would further the state’s land use goals.

16.9675(11) (11) Gather information about land use issues in any reasonable way, including the following:

16.9675(11)(a) (a) Establishing a state-local government-private sector working group to study and advise the department on land use issues.

16.9675(11)(b) (b) Holding public hearings or information meetings on land use issues.

16.9675(11)(c) (c) Conducting surveys on land use issues.

16.9675(11)(d) (d) Consulting with any person who is interested in land use issues.

16.9675 History History: 2005 a. 25.

16.968 16.968 Groundwater survey and analysis. The department shall allocate funds for programs of groundwater survey and analysis to the department of natural resources and the geological and natural history survey following review and approval of a mutually agreed upon division of responsibilities concerning groundwater programs between the department of natural resources and the geological and natural history survey, a specific expenditure plan and groundwater data collection standards. State funds allocated under this section shall be used to match available federal funds prior to being used for solely state-funded activities.

16.968 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1997 a. 27 ss. 142, 142am, 9456 (3m); 2003 a. 33 s. 2811; 2003 a. 48 ss. 10, 11; 2003 a. 206 s. 23.

16.9685 16.9685 Clean water clearinghouse.

16.9685(1) (1) In this section, “credits” means water pollution credits that may be traded under s. 283.84 (1) (f) and (g).

16.9685(2) (2) The department shall solicit services from a single clearinghouse to perform the functions under subs. (3), (5), and (6). The department may not enter into a contract with a clearinghouse under this section unless the department determines that all of the following requirements have been met:

16.9685(2)(a) (a) The clearinghouse has established or is capable of establishing the contract terms, conditions, and information required to document and enforce transactions under sub. (3) (a) and (c) in a commercially reasonable manner.

16.9685(2)(b) (b) The clearinghouse has established a policy that requires a commercially reasonable amount of financial reserves, insurance, reserve credit pool, or other risk management mechanism for use in the event that a party defaults on an agreement under sub. (3) (a).

16.9685(2)(c) (c) The clearinghouse has established a commercially reasonable process for soliciting and entering into transactions under sub. (3) (a) and (c).

16.9685(2)(d) (d) The clearinghouse has established a clearly defined fee structure describing the manner in which and the amount that the clearinghouse will be paid for facilitating and executing transactions under sub. (3) (a) and (c).

16.9685(2)(e) (e) The clearinghouse has the capability to facilitate and execute transactions under sub. (3) (a) and (c).

16.9685(2)(f) (f) The clearinghouse has satisfied all other applicable requirements to transact business in this state.

16.9685(2)(g) (g) The department of natural resources has approved the contract.

16.9685(3) (3) The clearinghouse with which the department enters into a contract under sub. (2) shall be the primary entity responsible for facilitating a financially stable market for the activities described in this subsection and sub. (5) and shall do all of the following:

16.9685(3)(a) (a) Produce credits by entering into contracts with other parties to undertake water pollution reduction activities. Each credit generated by a contracting party under this paragraph shall require the party to undertake at least 1.2 times that amount in water pollution reduction activities.

16.9685(3)(b) (b) Maintain a bank of credits produced or to be produced under par. (a).

16.9685(3)(c) (c) Sell credits produced under par. (a) to any person.

16.9685(3)(d) (d) Use methods approved by the department of natural resources to determine the amount of credits that may be produced by various water pollution reduction activities. These methods may include tables and models based on the best available scientific protocols. The clearinghouse may recommend additional methods to the department of natural resources.

16.9685(3)(e) (e) When contracting with a party under par. (a), determine the amount of credits that may be produced by the water pollution reduction activities by using the methods approved under par. (d).

16.9685(3)(f) (f) When contracting with a party under par. (a), do all of the following:

16.9685(3)(f)1. 1. Seek to minimize transaction costs.

16.9685(3)(f)2. 2. Seek to maximize the performance of the water pollution reduction activities.

16.9685(3)(f)3. 3. Seek to reduce the overall amount of pollutants introduced into the applicable hydrologic area, as defined under s. 283.84 (1m) (e) 2.

16.9685(3)(f)4. 4. Require a maintenance schedule approved by the department of natural resources to ensure that the credits are maintained throughout the time for which they are certified under sub. (4).

16.9685(3)(g) (g) Before making a credit available for sale for use under s. 283.84 (1) (f), verify the credit by reporting to the department of natural resources any pertinent information regarding the credit and the related water pollution reduction activities, including the location of the activities; the type of practice or technology used; any maintenance schedule; the frequency of inspections; the duration for which the credit is valid; and the amount of credits generated by the water pollution reduction activities.

16.9685(3)(h) (h) Establish and maintain a centralized registry of all credits generated and sold in this state and of the verification of all such credits that have been incorporated into permits under ch. 283. The clearinghouse shall maintain an Internet-based platform to facilitate the location of potential credit buyers, available credits, and any other information that will facilitate credit transactions. The clearinghouse shall report this and other pertinent trading information annually to the department and to the department of natural resources. The clearinghouse shall enter into a data-sharing agreement with the department of natural resources to facilitate the clearinghouse’s ability to collect and make publicly available pertinent information relating to water quality improvement programs administered in this state.

16.9685(4) (4) No later than 45 days after reviewing the information provided under sub. (3) (g) and (h), the department of natural resources shall certify the amount of credits and the duration of the credits available for sale.

16.9685(5) (5) The clearinghouse with which the department enters into a contract under sub. (2) may do any of the following:

16.9685(5)(a) (a) Charge fees and use funds received for general program operations of the clearinghouse, including costs associated with facilitating transactions, purchasing credits, and repayment of funds granted or loaned to the clearinghouse.

16.9685(5)(b) (b) Hold excess funds in trust for the purpose of making grants, in collaboration with county land conservation offices, the department of natural resources, or the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, for targeted water pollution prevention, water pollution remediation, and other environmental enhancement projects that improve the water quality of this state.

16.9685(5)(c) (c) Establish a reserve pool of credits produced under sub. (3) (a) and maintain the reserve credit pool for the purpose of maintaining a risk management mechanism under sub. (2) (b).

16.9685(5)(d) (d) Conduct research on other innovative approaches to environmental improvement.