Wis. Stat. § 66.1333 — WI Code / Chapter 66 / Section 66.1333
Blight elimination and slum clearance.
Status: in_force

(1) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Blight Elimination and Slum Clearance Act”.

(2) Findings. In addition to the findings and declarations made in ss. 66.1331 (2) and 66.1337 , it is found and declared that the existence of substandard, deteriorated, slum and blighted areas and blighted properties is a matter of statewide concern. It is the policy of this state to protect and promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people of the state in which these areas and blighted properties exist by the elimination and prevention of these areas and blighted properties through the utilization of all means appropriate for that purpose, thereby encouraging well-planned, integrated, stable, safe and healthful neighborhoods, the provision of healthful homes, a decent living environment and adequate places for employment of the people of this state and its communities in these areas and blighted properties. The purposes of this section are to provide for the elimination and prevention of substandard, deteriorated, slum and blighted areas and blighted properties through redevelopment and other activities by state-created agencies and the utilization of all other available public and private agencies and resources. State agencies are necessary in order to carry out in the most effective and efficient manner the state’s policy and declared purposes for the prevention and elimination of substandard, deteriorated, slum and blighted areas and blighted properties. State agencies shall be available in all the cities in the state to be known as the redevelopment authorities of the particular cities and carry out and effectuate the provisions of this section when the local legislative bodies of the cities determine there is a need for them to carry out within their cities the powers and purposes of this section. Assistance which may be given by cities or any other public bodies under this section is a public use and purpose for which public money may be expended. The necessity in the public interest for the provisions of this section is declared a matter of legislative determination. Nothing in this subsection contravenes, repeals or rescinds the finding or declaration of necessity before the recreation of this subsection on June 1, 1958.

(2m) Definitions. In this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “Abandoned highway corridor” means land in any city designated by the department of transportation for use as part of an expressway or a freeway, which is no longer designated by the department for that purpose.

(am) “Arts incubator” has the meaning given in s. 41.60 (1) (a) .

(ar) “Authority” means a redevelopment authority.

(b) “Blighted area” means any of the following:

1. An area, including a slum area, in which there is a predominance of buildings or improvements, whether residential or nonresidential, which by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age or obsolescence, inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation, or open spaces, high density of population and overcrowding, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors is conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, or crime, and is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals or welfare.

2. An area which by reason of the presence of a substantial number of substandard, slum, deteriorated or deteriorating structures, predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility or usefulness, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site or other improvements, diversity of ownership, tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair value of the land, defective or unusual conditions of title, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of a city, retards the provision of housing accommodations or constitutes an economic or social liability and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use.

3. An area which is predominantly open and which because of obsolete platting, diversity of ownership, deterioration of structures or of site improvements, or otherwise, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of the community.

(bm) “Blighted property” means any property within a city, whether residential or nonresidential, which by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age or obsolescence, inadequate provisions for ventilation, light, air or sanitation, high density of population and overcrowding, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, is conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency or crime, and is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals or welfare, or any property which by reason of faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility or usefulness, insanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site or other improvements, diversity of ownership, tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair market value of the land, defective or unusual conditions of title, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of a city, retards the provisions of housing accommodations or constitutes an economic or social liability and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare in its present condition and use, or any property which is predominantly open and which because of obsolete platting, diversity of ownership, deterioration of structures or of site improvements, or otherwise, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of the community.

(c) “Blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal program,” “blight elimination and urban renewal program,” “redevelopment, slum clearance or urban renewal program,” “redevelopment or urban renewal program,” and “redevelopment program,” mean undertakings and activities for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of blighted areas.

(d) “Blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal project,” “redevelopment and urban renewal project,” “redevelopment or urban renewal project,” “redevelopment project,” “urban renewal project,” and “project” mean undertakings and activities in a project area for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of slums and blight, and may involve clearance and redevelopment in a project area, or rehabilitation or conservation in a project area, or any combination or part of the undertakings and activities in accordance with a “redevelopment plan,” “urban renewal plan,” “redevelopment or urban renewal plan,” “project area plan,” or “redevelopment and urban renewal plan,” either one of which means the redevelopment plan of the project area prepared and approved as provided in sub. (6) . These undertakings and activities include all of the following:

1. Acquisition of all or a portion of a blighted area.

2. Demolition and removal of buildings and improvements.

3. Installation, construction, or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other improvements necessary for carrying out in the project area the objectives of this section in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

4. Disposition of any property acquired in the project area, including sale, initial leasing or retention by the authority itself, at its fair value for uses in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

5. Carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

6. Acquisition of any other real property in the project area where necessary to eliminate unhealthful, insanitary or unsafe conditions, lessen density, eliminate obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare, or otherwise to remove or prevent the spread of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities.

7. Studying the feasibility of and initial design for an arts incubator, developing and operating an arts incubator, and applying for a grant or loan under s. 41.60 in connection with an arts incubator.

8. Studying the feasibility of an initial design for a technology-based incubator and developing and operating a technology-based incubator.

(e) “Bonds” means any bonds, including refunding bonds; notes; interim certificates; certificates of indebtedness; debentures; or other obligations.

(g) “Local legislative body” means the board of alderpersons, common council, council, commission or other board or body vested by the charter of the city or other law with jurisdiction to enact ordinances or local laws.

(h) “Project area” means a blighted area which the local legislative body declares to be in need of a blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal project.

(i) “Public body” means the state or any city, county, town, village, town board, commission, authority, district, or any other subdivision or public body of the state.

(j) “Real property” includes all lands, together with improvements and fixtures, and property of any nature appurtenant to the lands, or used in connection with the lands, and every estate, interest, right and use, legal or equitable, in the lands, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise.

(t) “Technology-based incubator” means a facility that provides a new or expanding technically-oriented business with all of the following:

1. Office and laboratory space.

2. Shared clerical and other support service.

3. Managerial and technical assistance.

(3) Redevelopment authority.

(a)

1. It is found and declared that a redevelopment authority, functioning within a city in which there exists blighted areas, constitutes a more effective and efficient means for preventing and eliminating blighted areas in the city and preventing the recurrence of blighted areas. Therefore, there is created in every city with a blighted area a redevelopment authority, to be known as the “redevelopment authority of the city of ....”. An authority is created for the purpose of carrying out blight elimination, slum clearance, and urban renewal programs and projects as set forth in this section, together with all powers necessary or incidental to effect adequate and comprehensive blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal programs and projects.

2. An authority may transact business and exercise any of the powers granted to it in this section following the adoption by the local legislative body of a resolution declaring in substance that there exists within the city a need for blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal programs and projects.

3. Upon the adoption of the resolution by the local legislative body by a two-thirds vote of its members present, a certified copy of the resolution shall be transmitted to the mayor or other head of the city government. Upon receiving the certified copy of the resolution, the mayor or other head of the city government shall, with the confirmation of four-fifths of the local legislative body, appoint 7 residents of the city as commissioners of the authority.

4. The powers of the authority are vested in the commissioners.

5. In making appointments of commissioners, the appointing power shall give due consideration to the general interest of the appointee in a redevelopment, slum clearance or urban renewal program and shall, insofar as is possible, designate representatives from the general public, labor, industry, finance or business group, and civic organizations. Appointees shall have sufficient ability and experience in related fields, especially in the fields of finance and management, to assure efficiency in the redevelopment program, its planning and direction. One of the 7 commissioners shall be a member of the local legislative body. No more than 2 of the commissioners may be officers of the city in which the authority is created.

6. Commissioners shall receive their actual and necessary expenses, including local traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

(b) The commissioners who are first appointed shall be designated by the appointing power to serve for the following terms: 2 for one year, 2 for 2 years, one for 3 years, one for 4 years, and one for 5 years, from the date of their appointment. After the first appointments, the term of office is 5 years. A commissioner holds office until a successor is appointed and qualified. Removal of a commissioner is governed by s. 66.1201 . Vacancies and new appointments are filled in the manner provided in par. (a) .

(c) The filing of a certified copy of the resolution adopted under par. (a) with the city clerk is prima facie evidence of the authority’s right to proceed, and the resolution is not subject to challenge because of any technicality. In any suit, action or proceeding commenced against the authority, a certified copy of the resolution is conclusive evidence that the authority is established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers under this section.

(d) Following the adoption of a resolution, under par. (a) , a city is precluded from exercising the powers provided in s. 66.1331 (4) , and the authority may proceed to carry on the blight elimination, slum clearance and urban renewal projects in the city, except that the city is not precluded from applying, accepting and contracting for federal grants, advances and loans under the housing and community development act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383 ).

(e)

1. An authority has no power in connection with any public housing project.

2. Persons otherwise entitled to any right, benefit, facility, or privilege under this section may not be denied the right, benefit, facility, or privilege in any manner for any purpose nor be discriminated against because of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as defined in s. 106.50 (1m) (u) , or national origin.

(f) An authority is an independent, separate and distinct public body and a body corporate and politic, exercising public powers determined to be necessary by the state to protect and promote the health, safety and morals of its residents, and may take title to real and personal property in its own name. The authority may proceed with the acquisition of property by eminent domain under ch. 32 , or any other law relating specifically to eminent domain procedures of redevelopment authorities.

(g) 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 are determined by the authority. The director shall act as secretary of the authority and has the duties, powers and responsibilities delegated by the authority. All of the employees, including the director of the authority, may participate in the same pension system, health and life insurance programs and deferred compensation programs provided for city employees and are eligible for any other benefits provided to city employees.

(5) Powers of redevelopment authorities.

(a) An authority 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:

1. Prepare redevelopment plans and urban renewal plans and undertake and carry out redevelopment and urban renewal projects within the corporate limits of the city in which it functions.

2. 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 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.

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

4.

a. Borrow money and issue bonds; execute notes, debentures, and other forms of indebtedness; 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 give such security as may be required and enter into and carry out contracts or agreements in connection with the security; and 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 considers reasonable and appropriate and that are not inconsistent with the purposes of this section.

b. Any debt or obligation of the authority is not the debt or obligation of the city, county, state or any other governmental authority other than the redevelopment authority itself.

c. Issue bonds to finance its activities under this section, including the payment of principal and interest upon any advances for surveys and plans, and issue refunding bonds for the payment or retirement of bonds previously issued by it. 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. Payment of 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 all or a part of the projects or activities. Bonds issued under this section are not 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 are not 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 and income, are exempt from all taxes. Bonds issued under this section shall be authorized by resolution of the authority, may be issued in one or more series and shall bear a date, be payable upon demand or mature at a time, bear interest at a rate, be in a denomination, be in a form either with or without coupon or registered, carry conversion or registration privileges, have rank or priority, be payable in a medium of payment, at a place, and be subject to terms of redemption, with or without premium, be secured in a manner, and have other characteristics, as provided by the resolution, trust indenture or mortgage issued pursuant 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 provides. The bonds may be sold or exchanged at any price that the authority determines. If sold or exchanged at public sale, the sale shall be held after a class 2 notice, under ch. 985 , published before the sale in a newspaper having general circulation in the city and in any other medium of publication that the authority determines. 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 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 that does not exceed the interest cost to the authority of the portion of the bonds sold to the federal government. Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds issued under this section are fully negotiable. In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforceability of any bond issued under this section or the security for any bond, any bond reciting in substance that it has been issued by the authority in connection with a project or activity under this section is deemed to have been issued for that purpose and the project or activity is deemed to have been planned, located and carried out in accordance with this section.

5. 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) . The procedure shall assure that copies of 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 disc 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 .

6. 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 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.

7. Commence actions in its own name. The authority shall be sued in the name of the authority. The authority shall have an official seal.

8. Exercise other powers that may be required or necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.