Chapter 62

62.237(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

62.237(1)(a) (a) “Debt service” means the amount due of principal, interest and premium for mortgage revenue bonds or revenue bonds issued under this section.

62.237(1)(b) (b) “Dwelling” means any structure used or intended to be used for habitation with up to 2 separate units certified for occupancy by the city. “Dwelling” also means any housing cooperative incorporated under ch. 185 or 193.

62.237(1)(c) (c) “Lending institution” means any private business issuing home mortgages.

62.237(1)(d) (d) “Municipality” means any city with a population greater than 75,000.

62.237(1)(e) (e) “Owner-occupied dwelling” means a dwelling in which the owner occupies or will occupy any unit.

62.237(2) (2) Issuing loans.

62.237(2)(a) (a) The legislative body of any municipality may adopt a resolution, authorizing the municipality to:

62.237(2)(a)1. 1. Issue mortgage loans with an interest rate less than the lowest rate available at lending institutions within the municipality, for the purchase or construction of any owner-occupied dwelling located within an area described in sub. (3). Financing for rehabilitation or home improvements may be made available as part of these loans.

62.237(2)(a)2. 2. Issue loans to any lending institution within the municipality that agrees to loan the money at designated terms for the purchase, purchase and rehabilitation or construction of any owner-occupied dwelling located within an area described in sub. (3).

62.237(2)(a)3. 3. Foreclose any mortgage and sell the mortgaged property for collection purposes if the mortgagor defaults on the payment of principal and interest of a loan issued under this section.

62.237(2)(b) (b) The resolution shall designate each area in which dwellings are eligible for loans.

62.237(2)(c) (c) No loan may be issued to purchase, purchase and rehabilitate or construct a dwelling that violates applicable provisions of the one- and 2-family dwelling code under ss. 101.60 to 101.66, or that violates any ordinance the municipality adopts regulating the dwelling. If the dwelling is found to be violating the dwelling code or any ordinance after issuance of the loan, the loan shall default. The municipality may require the full loan to become due or may increase the interest rate to the maximum allowable. The municipality may defer imposing a penalty for up to one year after the violation is found to exist.

62.237(3) (3) Eligible areas. Owner-occupied dwellings in any area of the municipality are eligible for loans under this section if any 2 of the following conditions exist:

62.237(3)(a) (a) The median assessed property value of one- and 2-family dwellings in the area is less than or equal to 80 percent of the median assessed property value of one- and 2-family dwellings in the municipality.

62.237(3)(b) (b) The median family income of the area is less than or equal to 80 percent of the median family income of the municipality.

62.237(3)(c) (c) The proportion of owner-occupied dwellings in the area is less than or equal to 80 percent of the proportion of owner-occupied dwellings in the municipality.

62.237(3)(d) (d) The vacancy rate of dwellings in the area is greater than or equal to 120 percent of the vacancy rate of dwellings in the municipality.

62.237(4) (4) Revenue bonding.

62.237(4)(a) (a) The governing body of any municipality may issue revenue bonds by resolution, to finance low-interest mortgage loans under this section. The resolution shall state the maximum dollar amount of authorized bonds and the purpose for which the municipality may issue the bonds. The resolution shall state the terms, form and content of the bonds. These bonds may be registered under s. 67.09.

62.237(4)(b) (b) Debt service is payable solely from revenues received from the loans issued under this section. No mortgage revenue bond or revenue bond issued under this section is a debt of the municipality or a charge against the city’s general credit or taxing powers. The municipality shall plainly state the provisions of this paragraph on the face of each mortgage revenue bond or revenue bond.

62.237(4)(c) (c) The municipality shall use revenues from payment of the principal and interest of loans issued under this section to pay debt service. The municipality shall use any excess revenues to pay other costs accruing from the issuance of the loans. The municipality shall deposit any remaining revenues in a revolving fund of the municipal treasury, to use for additional loans under this section.

62.237(4)(d) (d) The resolution may authorize appointment of a receiver to collect interest and principal on loans issued under this section for paying debt service, if the municipality defaults on paying debt service.

62.237 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 24, 27, 207; 1999 a. 150 s. 378; Stats. 1999 s. 62.237; 2005 a. 441.

62.25 62.25 Claims and actions.

62.25(1) (1) Claims. No action may be brought or maintained against a city upon a claim or cause of action unless the claimant complies with s. 893.80. This subsection does not apply to actions commenced under s. 19.37, 19.97 or 281.99.

62.25(2) (2) Actions.

62.25(2)(a) (a) Damages, if any, in an action against a city officer in the officer’s official capacity, except the action directly involve the title to the officer’s office, shall not be awarded against such officer, but may be awarded against the city.

62.25(2)(b) (b) In an action to restrain payment by a city for work performed or material furnished, the plaintiff shall give a bond conditioned for payment to the claimant, if the action is finally determined in the claimant’s favor, of damages caused by the delay, including expense incurred in the action, and interest. The bond shall be with 2 sureties to be approved by the court, and in an amount fixed by the court and sufficient to cover all probable damages.

62.25(2)(d) (d) No person shall be ineligible to sit as judge, justice or juror in an action to which the city is a party, by reason of being an inhabitant of the city.

62.25 History History: 1977 c. 285; 1979 c. 323 s. 33; 1991 a. 316; 1995 a. 158, 225; 1997 a. 27.

62.25 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 62.12 (8) as to filing claims and demands against the city.

62.25 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 66.0609 for an alternative system of approving claims.

62.25 Annotation An action against a municipality based on a filed “claim” that did not state a dollar amount must be dismissed. The fact that the city council denied the claim did not bar the defense. By purchasing liability insurance, the city did not waive the protection of the statute. Sambs v. Nowak, 47 Wis. 2d 158, 177 N.W.2d 144 (1970).

62.25 Annotation Sub. (1) is applicable to a counterclaim for money damages in a lawsuit commenced by a city. City of Milwaukee v. Milwaukee Civic Developments, Inc., 71 Wis. 2d 647, 239 N.W.2d 44 (1976).

62.25 Annotation Nothing in either this chapter or ch. 120 precludes a school board from qualifying as a proper “claimant” under this section. Joint School District No. 1 v. City of Chilton, 78 Wis. 2d 52, 253 N.W.2d 879 (1977).

62.25 Annotation This section does not apply to a claim for equitable relief. Kaiser v. City of Mauston, 99 Wis. 2d 345, 299 N.W.2d 259 (Ct. App. 1980).

62.26 62.26 General provisions.

62.26(1) (1) Laws in force. The general laws for the government of cities, villages and towns, the assessment and collection of taxes, the preservation of public and private property, highways, roads and bridges, the punishment of offenders, the collection of penalties and the manner of conducting elections shall be in force in all cities organized under this subchapter except as otherwise provided under this subchapter.

62.26(2) (2) Equity in land. The acquisition or retention by a city of an equity of redemption in lands shall not create any liability on the part of the city to pay any bonds issued or mortgage or trust deed upon such lands executed prior to the acquisition by the city of such equity.

62.26(3) (3) Forms. The use of any forms prescribed by the statutes of this state, as far as the same are applicable, shall be as legal and of the same force and effect as the use of the forms prescribed by this subchapter.

62.26(4) (4) Rewards. When any heinous offense or crime has been committed against life or property within any city the mayor, with the consent of a majority of the alderpersons, may offer a reward for the apprehension of the criminal or perpetrator of such offense.

62.26(6) (6) Cities in more than one county. In cities lying in more than one county the following shall apply:

62.26(6)(b) (b) Accused persons may be put in custody of an officer or committed to the jail of the city or of the county where the offense was committed.

62.26(6)(d) (d) Officers of the city, who by law have the powers of constables in the county in which the city is located, shall have such powers in either county.

62.26(7) (7) Change of city name. The name of any city of the fourth class shall be changed if a majority of the electors shall address a written petition therefor to the council designating the new name, and the council shall by a two-thirds vote of all the members adopt an ordinance changing to such new name. The change shall be in effect upon publication of the ordinance in the official paper, and the filing of a copy thereof with the secretary of administration.

62.26 History History: 1977 c. 151; 1993 a. 184; 2015 a. 55.

subch. II of ch. 62 SUBCHAPTER II

FIRST CLASS CITIES

62.50 62.50 Police and fire departments in 1st class cities.

62.50(1e) (1e) Definition. In this section, “offense” means any felony or Class A or Class B misdemeanor violation of any of the following:

62.50(1e)(a) (a) Chapters 940 and 941.

62.50(1e)(b) (b) Section 942.08.

62.50(1e)(c) (c) Section 942.09.

62.50(1e)(d) (d) Chapters 943 to 948.

62.50(1h) (1h) Organization. In all 1st class cities, however incorporated, there shall be a board of fire and police commissioners, consisting of either 7 or 9 citizens, not more than 3, if the board has 7 members, or 4, if the board has 9 members, of whom shall at any time belong to the same political party. At least one member of the board shall be selected from a list submitted under sub. (1j) by the employee association that represents nonsupervisory law enforcement officers and at least one member shall be selected from a list submitted under sub. (1j) by the employee association that represents fire fighters. For an appointment that is required to be selected from a list under this subsection, the mayor shall make the appointment within 45 days after receiving a list under sub. (1j). The staff and members of the board shall receive the salary or other compensation for their services fixed by the common council. The salary shall be fixed at the same time and in the same manner as the salary of other city officials and employees. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a majority of the members-elect, as that term is used in s. 59.001 (2m), of the board shall constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of business. A 3-member panel of the board may conduct, and decide by majority vote, a trial described under sub. (12) or may hear and decide, by majority vote, charges filed by an aggrieved person under sub. (19). It shall be the duty of the mayor of the city, on or before the 2nd Monday in July, to appoint 7, or 9, members of the board, designating the term of office of each, one to hold one year, 2 to hold 2 years, 2 to hold 3 years, one to hold 4 years if the board has 7 members, and 2 to hold 4 years if the board has 9 members, and one to hold 5 years if the board has 7 members, and 2 to hold 5 years if the board has 9 members, and until their respective successors shall be appointed and qualified. Thereafter the terms of office shall be 5 years from the 2nd Monday in July, and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The mayor may reduce the size of the board from 9 to 7 members by failing to appoint 2 successors for individuals whose terms expire at the same time. Every person appointed a member of the board shall be subject to confirmation by the common council and every appointed member shall, before entering upon the duties of the office take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by article IV, section 28, of the constitution, and file the same duly certified by the officer administering it, with the clerk of the city. A member of the board may not continue in office after the expiration of his or her term unless the member is reappointed to the board and confirmed by the common council. Not later than the first day of the 7th month beginning after a member appointed by the mayor is confirmed by the common council, the member shall enroll in a training class that is related to the mission of the board and, not later than the first day of the 13th month beginning after a member appointed by the mayor is confirmed by the common council, the member shall complete the class. The training class shall be conducted by the city. Appointments made prior to the time this subchapter first applies to a 1st class city shall not be subject to confirmation by the common council.

62.50(1j) (1j) Selection of certain board members. Lists of individuals submitted under sub. (1h) by the employee association that represents nonsupervisory law enforcement officers and the employee association that represents fire fighters for selection shall each contain 3 names. Individuals included in a list under this subsection by an employee association that represents nonsupervisory law enforcement officers or fire fighters shall have professional law enforcement experience or professional fire fighting experience, respectively, and shall be at least 5 years removed from service as a professional law enforcement officer or fire fighter, respectively. Individuals included in a list under this subsection shall be residents of the 1st class city and may not be currently employed by the 1st class city. A list under this subsection shall be provided not more than 3 months after the occurrence of a vacancy in a position to be filled by selection from a list under this subsection.

62.50(1m) (1m) Policy review. The board shall conduct at least once each year a policy review of all aspects of the operations of the police and fire departments of the city and may advise the common council regarding any recommended policy changes. The board may inspect any property of the departments, including but not limited to books and records, required for a review under this section.

62.50(2) (2) Control of appointments. No person may be appointed to any position either on the police force or in the fire department of the city, except with the approval of the board.

62.50(3) (3) Regulation of the departments.

62.50(3)(a) (a) The chief of each department shall establish policies relating to the control and management of each department.

62.50(3)(am) (am) The common council may suspend or modify any policy established under par. (a) only upon a two-thirds vote of all of the members of the common council.

62.50(3)(b) (b) The board shall adopt rules to govern the selection and appointment of persons employed in the police and fire departments of the city. The rules shall be designed to secure the best service for the public in each department. The rules shall provide for ascertaining, as far as possible, physical qualifications, standing and experience of all applicants for positions, and may provide for the competitive examination of some or all applicants in such subjects as are deemed proper for the purpose of best determining the applicants’ qualifications for the position sought. The rules may provide for the classification of positions in the service and for a special course of inquiry and examination for candidates for each class.

62.50(3)(c) (c) The rules of each department shall be available to the public at a cost not to exceed the actual copying costs.

62.50(4) (4) Printing and distribution of regulations. The board shall cause the rules and regulations prepared and adopted under this section, and all changes therein, to be printed and distributed as the board deems necessary, and the expense thereof shall be certified by the board to the city comptroller and shall be paid by the city. The rules and regulations shall specify the date when they take effect, and thereafter all selections of persons for employment, appointment or promotion, either in the police force or the fire department of such cities except of the chief of police, the inspector of police, the chief engineer and the first assistant of the fire department, shall be made in accordance with such rules and regulations.

62.50(5) (5) Examinations. The examinations which the rules and regulations provide for shall be public and free to all U.S. citizens with proper limitations as to age, health and, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, arrest and conviction record. The examinations shall be practical in their character and shall relate to those matters which fairly test the relative capacity of the candidates to discharge the duties of the positions in which they seek employment or to which they seek to be appointed and may include tests of manual skill and physical strength. The board shall control all examinations and may designate suitable persons, either in the official service of the city or not, to conduct such examinations and may change such examiners at any time, as seems best.

62.50(6) (6) Appointment of chiefs. If a vacancy exists in the office of chief of police or in the office of chief engineer of the fire department, the board by a majority vote shall appoint proper persons to fill such offices respectively. When filling a vacancy in the office of chief of police or in the office of chief engineer of the fire department occurring after June 15, 1977, the board shall appoint the person to a term of office the number of years and commencement date of which shall be set by the city of the 1st class by ordinance and which may not exceed 10 years, or for the remainder of an unexpired term.

62.50(7) (7) Assistant chiefs, inspectors and captains; vacancies.

62.50(7)(a) (a) If a vacancy exists in the office of assistant chief, the chief of police shall nominate and, with the approval of the board, shall appoint a person to a term of office coinciding with the term of the chief making the appointment, subject thereafter to reinstatement to a previously held position on the force in accordance with rules prescribed by the board. Removal of the assistant chief shall be pursuant to s. 17.12 (1) (c). The chief may summarily suspend the assistant chief whose removal is sought by the chief.

62.50(7)(b) (b) If a vacancy exists in the office of inspector of police or captain of police, the chief of police shall nominate and, with the approval of the board, shall appoint a person to the office subject to suspension and removal under this section.

62.50(8) (8) First assistant engineer, vacancy. If a vacancy exists in the office of the first assistant engineer of the fire department, the chief engineer shall nominate and with the approval of the board shall appoint a suitable person to the office, subject to suspension and removal under this section.

62.50(9) (9) Members of force, vacancies. All of the members of the force in either department named, at the time when the rules and regulations go into effect, shall continue to hold their respective positions at the pleasure of their respective chiefs, subject to trial under this section, and all persons subsequently appointed shall so hold. All vacancies in either department shall be filled and all new appointments shall be made by the respective chiefs with the approval of the board. Where vacancies in old offices or newly created offices can, with safety to the department, be filled by the promotion of officers or persons already in the service and who have proved their fitness for the promotion, the vacancies in newly created offices shall be so filled by promotion by the respective chiefs with the approval of the board.

62.50(10) (10) Salaries; pensions. Provision may be made by the common council of a city by general ordinance that the salaries of the members of the force in the police and fire department of the city shall increase with the length of term of service. The salary and compensation of all members of the force in such departments shall be at all times subject to change by the common council, but the salary or compensation of the members of the force in the service of either department may not be decreased, except upon the previous recommendations of such change made in writing by the board to the common council. The common council may provide for an annual pension for life for such members of either service as are honorably discharged from same.

62.50(10m) (10m) Rest days. The council of every city of the 1st class, however organized, may provide for, and when such provision is made, the chief of the police department shall assign to each police officer in the service of the city one full rest day of 24 consecutive hours during each 192 hours, except in cases of positive necessity by some sudden and serious emergency, which, in the judgment of the chief of police, demands that such day of rest not be given at such time. Arrangements shall be made so that each full rest day may be had at such time as will not impair the efficiency of the department.

62.50(11) (11) Discharge or suspension. No member of the police force or fire department may be discharged or suspended for a term exceeding 30 days by the chief of either of the departments except for cause and after trial under this section.

62.50(12) (12) Trial to be ordered. Whenever complaint against any member of the force of either department is made to the chief thereof, the chief shall immediately communicate the same to the board of fire and police commissioners and a trial shall be ordered by the board under this section.

62.50(13) (13) Notice of discharge or suspension; appeals. The chief discharging or suspending for a period exceeding 5 days any member of the force shall give written notice of the discharge or suspension to the member and, at the same time that the notice is given, shall also give the member any exculpatory evidence in the chief’s possession related to the discharge or suspension. The chief shall also immediately report the notice of the discharge or suspension to the secretary of the board of fire and police commissioners together with a complaint setting forth the reasons for the discharge or suspension and the name of the complainant if other than the chief. Within 10 days after the date of service of the notice of a discharge or suspension order the members so discharged or suspended may appeal from the order of discharge or suspension or discipline to the board of fire and police commissioners, by filing with the board a notice of appeal in the following or similar form:

To the honorable board of fire and police commissioners:

Please take notice that I appeal from the order or decision of the chief of the .... department, discharging (or suspending) me from service, which order of discharge (or suspension) was made on the .... day of ...., .... (year).

62.50(14) (14) Complaint. The board, after receiving the notice of appeal shall, within 5 days, serve the appellant with a copy of the complaint and a notice fixing the time and place of trial, which time of trial may not be less than 60 days nor more than 120 days after service of the notice and a copy of the complaint.

62.50(15) (15) Notice of trial. Notice of the time and place of the trial, together with a copy of the charges preferred shall be served upon the accused in the same manner that a summons is served in this state.

62.50(16) (16) Trial; adjournment. The board may grant the accused or the chief an adjournment of the trial or investigation of the charges, for cause, not to exceed 15 days. In the course of any trial or investigation under this section each member of the fire and police commission may administer oaths, secure by its subpoenas both the attendance of witnesses and the production of records relevant to the trial and investigation, and compel witnesses to answer and may punish for contempt in the same manner provided by law in trials before municipal judges for failure to answer or to produce records necessary for the trial. The trial shall be public and all witnesses shall be under oath. The accused shall have full opportunity to be heard in defense and shall be entitled to secure the attendance of all witnesses necessary for the defense at the expense of the city. The accused may appear in person and by attorney. The city in which the department is located may be represented by the city attorney. All evidence shall be taken by a stenographic reporter who first shall be sworn to perform the duties of a stenographic reporter in taking evidence in the matter fully and fairly to the best of his or her ability.

62.50(17) (17) Decision, standard to apply.

62.50(17)(a) (a) Within 3 days after hearing the matter the board, or a 3-member panel of the board, shall, by a majority vote of its members and subject to par. (b), determine whether by a preponderance of the evidence the charges are sustained. If the board or panel determines that the charges are sustained, the board shall at once determine whether the good of the service requires that the accused be permanently discharged or be suspended without pay for a period not exceeding 60 days or reduced in rank. If the charges are not sustained the accused shall be immediately reinstated in his or her former position, without prejudice. The decision and findings of the board, or panel, shall be in writing and shall be filed, together with a transcript of the evidence, with the secretary of the board.

62.50(17)(b) (b) No police officer may be suspended, reduced in rank, suspended and reduced in rank, or discharged by the board under sub. (11), (13) or (19), or under par. (a), based on charges filed by the board, members of the board, an aggrieved person or the chief under sub. (11), (13) or (19), or under par. (a), unless the board determines whether there is just cause, as described in this paragraph, to sustain the charges. In making its determination, the board shall apply the following standards, to the extent applicable:

62.50(17)(b)1. 1. Whether the subordinate could reasonably be expected to have had knowledge of the probable consequences of the alleged conduct.

62.50(17)(b)2. 2. Whether the rule or order that the subordinate allegedly violated is reasonable.

62.50(17)(b)3. 3. Whether the chief, before filing the charge against the subordinate, made a reasonable effort to discover whether the subordinate did in fact violate a rule or order.

62.50(17)(b)4. 4. Whether the effort described under subd. 3. was fair and objective.