Chapter 66

66.0907(3)(a) (a) Authority of council. The council may by ordinance or resolution determine where sidewalks shall be constructed and establish the width, determine the material and prescribe the method of construction of standard sidewalks. The standard may be different for different streets. The council may order by ordinance or resolution sidewalks to be laid as provided in this subsection.

66.0907(3)(b) (b) Board of public works. The board of public works may order any sidewalk which is unsafe, defective or insufficient to be repaired or removed and replaced with a sidewalk in accordance with the standard fixed by the council.

66.0907(3)(c) (c) Notice. A copy of the ordinance, resolution or order directing the laying, removal, replacement or repair of sidewalks shall be served upon the owner, or an agent, of each lot or parcel of land in front of which the work is ordered. The board of public works, or either the street commissioner or the city engineer if so requested by the council, may serve the notice. Service of the notice may be made by any of the following methods:

66.0907(3)(c)1. 1. Personal delivery.

66.0907(3)(c)2. 2. Certified or registered mail.

66.0907(3)(c)3. 3. Publication in the official newspaper as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, together with mailing by 1st class mail if the name and mailing address of the owner or an agent can be readily ascertained.

66.0907(3)(d) (d) Default of owner. If the owner neglects for a period of 20 days after service of notice under par. (c) to lay, remove, replace or repair the sidewalk the city may cause the work to be done at the expense of the owner. All work for the construction of sidewalks shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder except as provided in s. 62.15 (1).

66.0907(3)(e) (e) Minor repairs. If the cost of repairs of any sidewalk in front of any lot or parcel of land does not exceed the sum of $100, the board of public works, street commissioner or city engineer, if so required by the council, may immediately repair the sidewalk, without notice, and charge the cost of the repair to the owner of the lot or parcel of land, as provided in this section.

66.0907(3)(f) (f) Expense. The board of public works shall keep an accurate account of the expenses of laying, removing and repairing sidewalks in front of each lot or parcel of land, whether the work is done by contract or otherwise, and report the expenses to the comptroller. The comptroller shall annually prepare a statement of the expense incurred in front of each lot or parcel of land and report the amount to the city clerk. The amount charged to each lot or parcel of land shall be entered by the clerk in the tax roll as a special charge, as defined under s. 74.01 (4), against the lot or parcel of land and collected like other taxes upon real estate. The council by resolution or ordinance may provide that the expense incurred may be paid in up to 10 annual installments and the comptroller shall prepare the expense statement to reflect the installment payment schedule. If annual installments for sidewalk expenses are authorized, the city clerk shall charge the amount to each lot or parcel of land and enter it on the tax roll as a special charge, as defined under s. 74.01 (4), against the lot or parcel each year until all installments have been entered, and the amount shall be collected like other taxes upon real estate. The council may provide that the street commissioner or city engineer perform the duties imposed by this section on the board of public works.

66.0907(5) (5) Snow and ice. The board of public works shall keep the sidewalks of the city clear of snow and ice in all cases where the owners or occupants of abutting lots fail to do so, and the expense of clearing in front of any lot or parcel of land shall be included in the statement to the comptroller required by sub. (3) (f), in the comptroller’s statement to the city clerk and in the special tax to be levied. The city may also impose a fine or penalty for neglecting to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

66.0907(6) (6) Repair at city expense. The council may provide that sidewalks shall be kept in repair by and at the expense of the city or may direct that a certain proportion of the cost of construction, reconstruction or repair be paid by the city and the balance by abutting property owners.

66.0907(7) (7) Rules. The council may by ordinance implement the provisions of this section, regulate the use of the sidewalks of the city and prevent their obstruction.

66.0907(10) (10) Application of section; definitions. The provisions of this section do not apply to 1st class cities but apply to towns and villages, and when applied to towns and villages:

66.0907(10)(a) (a) “Board of public works” means the committee or officer designated to handle street or sidewalk matters.

66.0907(10)(b) (b) “City” means town or village.

66.0907(10)(c) (c) “Comptroller” means clerk.

66.0907(10)(d) (d) “Council” means town board or village board.

66.0907 History History: 1975 c. 172, 356, 421, 422; 1979 c. 32; 1983 a. 189, 532; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 490; 1999 a. 150 s. 542; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0907; 2015 a. 55.

66.0907 Annotation A city cannot delegate its primary responsibility to maintain its sidewalks, nor delegate or limit its primary liability by ordinance. Kobelinski v. Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Corp., 56 Wis. 2d 504, 202 N.W.2d 415 (1972).

66.0907 Annotation The property owners’ failure to remove snow and ice from sidewalks in violation of a municipal ordinance did not constitute negligence per se. Hagerty v. Village of Bruce, 82 Wis. 2d 208, 262 N.W.2d 102 (1978).

66.0907 Annotation A city, exercising its police power, can impose a special tax on properties for the cost of installing a sidewalk on an adjacent city right-of-way without showing that the properties would be benefited. Stehling v. City of Beaver Dam, 114 Wis. 2d 197, 336 N.W.2d 401 (Ct. App. 1983).

66.0909 66.0909 Curb ramping.

66.0909(1) (1) The standard for construction of curbs and sidewalks on each side of a city or village street, or a connecting highway or town road for which curbs and sidewalks have been prescribed by the governing body of the town, city or village having jurisdiction, shall include curb ramping providing access to crosswalks at intersections and other designated locations. Curb ramping includes the curb opening, the ramp and that part of the sidewalk or apron leading to and adjacent to the curb opening. Any person constructing new curbs or sidewalks or replacing curbs or sidewalks within 5 feet of a legal crosswalk in any city street, village street, connecting highway or town road shall comply with the standards for curb ramping under this section.

66.0909(3) (3) Curb ramps shall conform to the following requirements:

66.0909(3)(a) (a) Curb ramping shall be of permanent construction. The ramp shall be at least 40 inches wide. The sides of the ramp shall slope from the sidewalk or apron elevations to the ramp elevation with the widest portion of the side slope not less than 18 inches nor more than 24 inches wide at the curb. The ramp slope may not exceed one inch vertical to 12 inches horizontal from the flow line elevation of the curb. The curb opening shall be not less than 40 inches nor more than 80 inches wide at the flow line of the curb. The taper of the curb from the top of the curb to the flow line of the curb at the curb opening shall be not less than 18 inches nor more than 24 inches wide. The ramp shall be bordered on both sides and on the curb line with a 4-inch-wide yellow stripe or with brick of a contrasting color.

66.0909(3)(b) (b) Curb ramping shall be in one of the following locations, to provide access to each end of each crosswalk affected:

66.0909(3)(b)1. 1. At the center of the curve of the street corner to accommodate crossing for either direction at the intersection. The entire curb corner may not be made into a ramp, but shall provide for standard sidewalk apron and curb on both sides of a ramp. Any safety zone marking required by ordinance shall be provided in the street or town road 40 inches out and parallel with the curb, joining with the standard safety pedestrian crossing markings in the street or town road;

66.0909(3)(b)2. 2. If subd. 1. is not feasible, centered on line with the crosswalk and pedestrian traffic and containing surface texturing to indicate clearly to the sense of touch that the surface differs from that of the sidewalk or street. The surface texturing shall consist of linear impressions one-fourth of an inch to three-eighths of an inch deep, oriented to provide a uniform pattern of diamond shapes. The diamond shapes shall measure approximately 1 1/4 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches long, with the length of the diamond shape parallel to the direction of pedestrian movement. The diamond shapes shall be spaced one-fourth of an inch to three-eighths of an inch apart. This surface texture may be achieved by impressing and removing expanded metal regular industrial mesh into the surface of the ramp while the concrete is in a plastic state; or

66.0909(3)(b)3. 3. If both subds. 1. and 2. are not feasible, at a suitable location as near to the crosswalk as practicable. Any safety zone markings required by ordinance shall be provided in the street or town road 40 inches out and parallel with the curb, joining with the standard safety pedestrian crossing markings in the street or town road.

66.0909(5) (5) The district attorney, on his or her own motion or upon the complaint of any person, may bring an action in circuit court to enforce this section.

66.0909(6) (6) If any person constructs a new or replacement sidewalk or curb, other than the town, city or village with jurisdiction over the curbs or sidewalks, the town, city or village shall inform the person of the requirements of this section. The town, city or village may agree to construct, or bear the cost of constructing, curb ramping required to provide access to sidewalks opposite the new or replacement curb or sidewalk.

66.0909 History History: 1971 c. 283; 1973 c. 98, 243; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (3); 1979 c. 272; 1991 a. 32; 1999 a. 150 s. 543; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0909.

66.0911 66.0911 Laterals and service pipes. If the governing body by resolution requires water, heat, sewer and gas laterals or service pipes to be constructed from the lot line or near the lot line to the main or from the lot line to the building to be serviced, or both, it may provide that when the work is done by the city, village or town or under a city, village or town contract, a record of the cost of constructing the laterals or service pipes shall be kept and the cost, or the average current cost of laying the laterals or service pipes, shall be charged and be a lien against the lot or parcel served.

66.0911 History History: 1983 a. 532; 1999 a. 150 s. 545; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0911.

66.0913 66.0913 City and county projects, individual or joint; revenue bonding.

66.0913(1) (1) 

66.0913(1)(a) (a) A county or city, or both jointly, may construct, purchase, acquire, develop, improve, operate or maintain a county or city building, or both jointly, for a courthouse, safety building, city hall, hospital, armory, library, auditorium and music hall, municipal parking lots or other parking facilities, or municipal center or any combination of the foregoing, or a University of Wisconsin college campus, as defined in s. 36.05 (6m), if the operation of the college campus has been approved by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

66.0913(1)(b) (b) The county board, common council, or both jointly, may, for any of its corporate purposes set forth in this subsection, issue bonds on which the principal and interest are payable from the income and revenues of the project financed with the proceeds of the bonds or with the proceeds together with the proceeds of a grant from the federal government to aid in the financing and construction of the project. In the case of municipal parking lots or other parking facilities the bonds may in addition be payable as to both principal and interest from income and revenues from other similar projects, parking meters, parking fees, or any other income or revenue obtained through parking, or any combination of these methods.

66.0913(1)(c) (c) The credit of the county, or city, or both jointly, may not be pledged to the payment of the bonds, but the bonds are payable only from the income and revenues described in par. (b) or the funds received from their sale or disposal. If the county board, or common council, or both jointly, so determine, the bonds shall be secured either by a trust indenture pledging the revenues or by a mortgage on the property comprising the project and the revenues from the project.

66.0913(2) (2) The bonds or other evidences of indebtedness shall state on their face that the bonds are not a debt of the county, or city, or both jointly, and that the county or city, or both jointly, are not liable for the indebtedness. Any indebtedness created by this section is not an indebtedness of the county or city and shall not be included in determining the constitutional 5 percent debt limitations.

66.0913(3) (3) The provisions of s. 66.0621 relating to the issuance of revenue bonds by cities for public utility purposes, insofar as applicable, and the provisions of ss. 67.08 (1) and 67.09 relating to the execution and registration of municipal obligations apply to the issuance of revenue bonds under this section.

66.0913 History History: 1971 c. 100 s. 23; 1977 c. 26; 1979 c. 89; 1983 a. 24; 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 237; 1999 a. 150 s. 492; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0913.

66.0915 66.0915 Viaducts in cities, villages and towns.

66.0915(1) (1) Private viaducts in cities, villages and towns. The privilege of erecting a viaduct above a public street, road, or alley, for the purpose of connecting buildings on each side, may be granted by the city council, village board, or town board upon the written petition of the owners of all the frontage of the lots and lands abutting the portion sought to be connected, and the owners of more than one-half of the frontage of the lots and lands abutting upon that portion of the remainder that lies within 2,650 feet from the ends of the portion proposed to be connected. If a lot or land is owned by the state, or by a county, city, village, or town, or by a minor or individual adjudicated incompetent, or the title to the lot or land is held in trust, the petition may be signed by the governor, the chairperson of the county board, the mayor of the city, the president of the board of trustees of the village, the chairperson of the town board, the guardian of the minor or individual adjudicated incompetent, or the trustee, respectively, and the signature of a private corporation may be made by its president, secretary, or other principal officer or managing agent. Written notice stating when and where the petition will be acted upon, and describing the location of the proposed viaduct, shall be given by the city council, village board, or town board by publication of a class 3 notice, under ch. 985.

66.0915(2) (2) Removal of private viaducts. A viaduct in a city, village, or town may be discontinued by the city council, village board, or town board, upon written petition of the owners of more than one-half of the frontage of the lots and lands abutting on the street or road approaching on each end of the viaduct, which lies within 2,650 feet from the ends of the viaduct. If a lot or land is owned by the state, or by a county, city, village, or town, or by a minor or individual adjudicated incompetent, or the title to the lot or land is held in trust, the petition may be signed by the governor, the chairperson of the county board, the mayor of the city, the president of the board of trustees of the village, the chairperson of the town board, the guardian of the minor or individual adjudicated incompetent, or the trustee, respectively, and the signature of a private corporation may be made by its president, secretary, or other principal officer or managing agent. Written notice stating when and where the petition will be acted upon, and stating what viaduct is proposed to be discontinued, shall be given by the city council, village board, or town board by publication of a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, not less than one year before the day fixed for the hearing and a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, within the 30 days before the date of the hearing.

66.0915(3) (3) Lease of space over public places by cities, villages and towns.

66.0915(3)(a) (a) A city, village or town may lease space over any street, road, alley or other public place in the city, village or town which is more than 12 feet above the level of the street, road, alley or other public place for any term not exceeding 99 years to the person who owns the fee in the property on both sides of the portion of the street, road, alley or other public place to be leased, if the governing body of the city, village or town determines that the place is not needed for street, road, alley or other public purpose, and that the public interest will be served by leasing.

66.0915(3)(b) (b) The leasing of each space shall be authorized by ordinance. The ordinance shall set forth the proposed lease, the purpose for which the space may be used and the terms of the lease with reasonable certainty.

66.0915(3)(c) (c) The lease shall be signed on behalf of the city, village or town by the mayor, village president or town board chairperson and shall be attested by the city, village or town clerk under the corporate seal. The lease shall also be executed by the lessee in a manner that binds the lessee. After being duly executed and acknowledged the lease shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the leased premises are located.

66.0915(3)(d) (d) If the governing body determines that the public interest requires that any building erected in the leased space be removed so that a street, road, alley or public place may be restored to its original condition, the lessor city, village or town may condemn the lessee’s interest in the leased space by proceeding under ch. 32. After payment of any damages in the condemnation proceedings, the city, village or town may remove all buildings or other structures from the leased space and restore the buildings adjoining the leased space to their original condition.

66.0915(4) (4) Sale or lease of space over or below public place.

66.0915(4)(a) (a) A city, village or town may sell or lease the space over or below ground level of any street, road, alley or public place or municipally owned real estate to any person, if the governing body determines by resolution and states the reasons that the action is in the best public interest and the prospective purchaser or lessee has provided for the removal and relocation expense for any facilities devoted to a public use where relocation is necessary for the purposes of the purchaser or lessee. Leases shall be granted by ordinance and shall not exceed 99 years in length. No lease may be granted or use authorized which substantially interferes with the public purpose for which the surface of the land is used.

66.0915(4)(b) (b) A lease shall specify purposes for which the leased space is to be used. If the purpose is to erect in the space a building or a structure attached to the lot, the lease shall contain a reasonably accurate description of the building to be erected and of the manner in which it will impose upon or around the lot. The lease shall also provide for use by the lessee of those areas of the real estate that are essential for ingress and egress to the leased space, for the support of the building or other structures to be erected and for the connection of essential public or private utilities to the building or structure.

66.0915(4)(c) (c) Any building erected in the space leased shall be operated, as far as practicable, separately from the municipal use. The structure shall conform to all state and municipal regulations.

66.0915(4)(d) (d) A lease under this subsection is subject to sub. (3) (c) and (d).

66.0915 History History: 1971 c. 43; 1983 a. 192 s. 303 (2); 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 246; 1999 a. 150 s. 117; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0915; 2005 a. 387.

66.0915 Annotation A statute authorizing cities and villages to lease space over a parking lot would be constitutional. 58 Atty. Gen. 179.

66.0917 66.0917 Art museums. A city, village or town may establish, purchase land and erect buildings for, and equip, manage and control an art museum. A city, village or town may enter into a contract with any art museum or art institute located in the city, village or town for the education of the people in art, for compensation determined by the governing body of the city, village or town. A city, village or town may levy taxes, issue bonds, or appropriate money for the purposes in this section.

66.0917 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 28; 1993 a. 246; 1999 a. 150 s. 484; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0917.

66.0919 66.0919 Civic centers.

66.0919(1) (1) Recreation and amusement. A city, village or town may by ordinance, enacted by a majority of all the members-elect, as defined in s. 59.001 (2m), of the board or council, provide for the erection, maintenance and operation of a public auditorium, opera house, or other recreation and amusement building. The erection and contracts are governed by the provisions of law applicable to other public buildings in the city, village or town. The board or council shall adopt regulations for maintenance and operation.

66.0919(2) (2) Rest rooms. A city, village or town may erect, purchase, lease, or take by gift or devise, land and buildings for public rest rooms, and may equip, maintain and operate them.

66.0919(3) (3) Comfort stations. A city, village or town may provide and maintain a sufficient number of public comfort stations for both sexes. The department of health services shall establish regulations governing their location, construction, equipment and maintenance and may prescribe minimum standards that shall be uniform throughout the state. The board or council may establish further regulations.

66.0919(4) (4) Comfort stations and rest rooms. The state or a county, city, village or town maintaining places of public assemblage or camp sites may provide and maintain a sufficient number of suitable and adequate public comfort stations for both sexes and may establish rest rooms separate or in connection with the comfort stations.

66.0919(5) (5) Public concerts. A town, village or city may conduct public concerts in auditoriums and such other public places within its boundaries as the board or council determines. The concerts shall be conducted by the department having charge of the place and expenses in excess of receipts, if any, shall be paid out of a fund determined by the board or council. A fee to attend the concerts may be charged for the purpose of defraying expenses in whole or in part.

66.0919 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 30; Stats. 1971 s. 66.49; 1993 a. 246; 1995 a. 27, s. 9126 (19); 1999 a. 150 s. 485; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0919; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).

66.0921 66.0921 Joint civic buildings.

66.0921(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

66.0921(1)(a) (a) “Municipality” means a county, city, village, town, technical college district and school district.

66.0921(1)(b) (b) “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

66.0921(2) (2) Facilities authorized. A municipality may enter into a joint contract with a nonprofit corporation organized for civic purposes and located in the municipality to construct or otherwise acquire, equip, furnish, operate and maintain a facility to be used for municipal and civic activities if a majority of the voters voting in a referendum at a special election or at a spring primary or election or partisan primary or general election approve the question of entering into the joint contract.

66.0921(3) (3) Financing. A municipality may borrow money, appropriate funds and levy taxes needed to carry out the purposes of this section. Funds to be used for the purposes specified in this section may be provided by a municipality by general obligation bonds issued under ch. 67. Funds to be used for the purposes specified in this section may be provided by a county, city, village or town by revenue bonds issued under s. 66.0621. Any bonds issued under this section shall be executed on behalf of the municipality by its chief executive officer and clerk.

66.0921(4) (4) Cost sharing. Any contract under this section shall provide that all of the cost of construction or other acquisition, equipment, furnishing, operation and maintenance of a facility shall be paid by the municipality and nonprofit corporation on an agreed percentage basis.

66.0921 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 39; 1993 a. 399; 1997 a. 79; 1999 a. 150 s. 488; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0921; 2011 a. 75.

66.0923 66.0923 County-city auditoriums.

66.0923(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

66.0923(1)(a) (a) “Auditorium” includes a building of arena or music hall type construction or a combination of both, including facilities for sports, dances, convention exhibitions, trade shows, meetings, rallies, theatrical exhibitions, concerts and other events attracting spectators and participants.

66.0923(1)(b) (b) “Board” means the joint county-city auditorium board established under this section.

66.0923(1)(c) (c) “Ordinance” means an ordinance adopted by the governing body of a city or county and concurred in by the other governing body.

66.0923(2) (2) County-city auditoriums. Any county and city partly or wholly within the county may by ordinance jointly construct or otherwise acquire, equip, furnish, operate and maintain a county-city auditorium.

66.0923(3) (3) Financing. The governing bodies of the respective county and city or cities may borrow money, appropriate funds, and levy taxes needed to carry out the purposes of this section. Funds to be used for the purposes specified in this section may be provided by the respective county, city or cities by general obligation bonds issued under ch. 67 or by revenue bonds issued under s. 66.0913 or by the issuance of both general obligation bonds under ch. 67 and revenue bonds issued under s. 66.0913. Bonds issued under this section shall be executed on behalf of the county by the county board chairperson and the county clerk and on behalf of a city by its mayor or other chief executive officer and by the city clerk.

66.0923(4) (4) Cost sharing. The ordinance shall provide for a sharing of all of the cost of construction or other acquisition, equipment, furnishing, operation and maintenance of an auditorium on an agreed percentage basis.

66.0923(5) (5) Auditorium board.

66.0923(5)(a) (a) The ordinance shall provide for the establishment of a joint county-city auditorium board to be composed of all of the following:

66.0923(5)(a)1. 1. The mayor or chief executive of the city, and the chairperson of the county board, who shall serve as members of the board during their respective terms of office.

66.0923(5)(a)2. 2. Four members to be appointed by the county board chairperson and confirmed by the county board.

66.0923(5)(a)3. 3. Four members to be appointed by the mayor or other chief executive officer of the city and confirmed by the city council.

66.0923(5)(b) (b) Under par. (a) 2. and 3., the initial term of one member shall be one year, the initial term of one member shall be 2 years, the initial term of one member shall be 3 years and the initial term of one member shall be 4 years. The respective successors of the members under par. (a) 2. and 3. shall be appointed and confirmed for terms of 4 years. All appointees shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Terms shall begin as specified in the ordinance. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

66.0923(5)(c) (c) The mayor or chief executive of the city, and the county board chairperson, each may appoint not more than 2 public officials to the board under par. (a).