SB134, s. 9 11Section 9 . 66.0225 of the statutes is renumbered 66.0225 (2) and amended to
12read:
SB134,8,1113 66.0225 (2) Contested annexations. Any 2 municipalities whose boundaries
14are immediately adjacent at any point and who are parties to an action, proceeding,
15or appeal in court for the purpose of testing the validity or invalidity of an
16annexation, incorporation, consolidation or detachment may enter into a written
17stipulation, compromising and settling the litigation and determining the portion of
18the
common boundary line between the municipalities that is the subject of the
19annexation
. The court having jurisdiction of the litigation, whether the circuit court,
20the court of appeals, or the supreme court, may enter a final judgment incorporating
21the provisions of the stipulation and fixing the common boundary line between the
22municipalities involved. A stipulation changing boundaries of municipalities shall
23be approved by the governing bodies of the detaching and annexing municipalities
24body of each municipality and s. 66.0217 (9) and (11) shall apply. A change of
25municipal boundaries under this section is subject to a referendum of the electors

1residing within the territory annexed or detached whose jurisdiction is subject to
2change under the stipulation
, if within 30 days after the publication of the
3stipulation to change boundaries in a newspaper of general circulation in the area
4proposed to be annexed or detached
that territory, a petition for a referendum
5conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 signed by at least 20% of the electors of the
6area to be annexed or detached
residing within that territory is filed with the clerk
7of the municipality from which the greater area is proposed to be detached removed
8and is filed as provided in s. 8.37. The referendum shall be conducted as are
9annexation referenda. If the referendum election is opposed to detachment from the
10municipality
fails, all proceedings under this section are void. In this section,
11"municipalities" means cities, villages and towns.
Note: Limits the application of the current procedure in s. 66.0225, stats.,
(boundaries fixed by court judgment) to contested annexations and limits the boundary
that is subject to the procedure to the portion of the boundary "that is the subject of the
annexation." The stricken last sentence is replaced by a definition in s. 66.0225 (1),
created by Sec. 10 of the bill.
The limitations are intended to discourage use of s. 66.0225 for boundary
agreements that are more appropriately developed under s. 66.0301 (6), as created by this
bill, or s. 66.0307, as revised by this bill. Retention of the s. 66.0225 procedure for
contested annexations, subject to the new limitation on which boundaries may be
included, recognizes the history and utility of this provision in settling annexation
litigation.
See, also, Sec. 11 of this bill.
SB134, s. 10 12Section 10 . 66.0225 (1) of the statutes is created to read:
SB134,8,1413 66.0225 (1) Definitions. In this section, "municipality" means a city, village,
14or town.
Note: Provides a definition for use throughout s. 66.0225.
SB134, s. 11 15Section 11 . 66.0225 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
SB134,8,1816 66.0225 (3) Contested boundary actions. (a) In this subsection, "boundary
17action" means an action, proceeding, or appeal in court contesting the validity of an
18annexation, consolidation, detachment, or incorporation.
SB134,9,5
1(b) If 2 municipalities whose boundaries are immediately adjacent at any point
2are parties to a boundary action, the municipalities may enter into an agreement
3under s. 66.0301 (6) or s. 66.0307 as part of a stipulation to settle the boundary action.
4The court may approve and make part of the final judgment a stipulation that
5includes an agreement under s. 66.0301 (6) or s. 66.0307.
Note: Requires parties to a contested consolidation, detachment, or incorporation
proceeding to use new s. 66.0301 (6), or s. 66.0307, as revised, if the parties enter into a
boundary agreement as part of the settlement of the contested action. Allows, but does
not require, parties to a contested annexation proceeding to use those provisions. (Parties
to a contested annexation proceeding will continue to be able to use current s. 66.0225,
as revised by this bill.)
See Sec. 9 of this bill and the Note following that Section.
SB134, s. 12 6Section 12. 66.0225 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB134,9,107 66.0225 (4) Authority for certain stipulations. A stipulation that is
8court-approved under this section before the effective date of this subsection ....
9[revisor inserts date], that affects the location of a boundary between municipalities,
10is not invalid as lacking authority to affect the location of the boundary.
Note: Recognizes that some court-approved stipulations under s. 66.0225 affected
common boundaries of the municipalities party to the action beyond those boundaries in
dispute. Despite the lack of express authority to do so and the revisions to the section
made by this bill, this provision provides that those agreements are not invalid insofar
as lacking authority to affect the location of the boundary that was included in the
court-approved stipulation.
SB134, s. 13 11Section 13. 66.0227 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,9,14 1266.0227 Detachment of territory. (intro.) Subject to s. ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and
1366.0307 (7), territory may be detached from a city or village and attached to a city,
14village or town to which it is contiguous as follows:
SB134, s. 14 15Section 14. 66.0229 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,9,18 1666.0229 Consolidation. Subject to s. ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7), a
17town, village or city may be consolidated with a contiguous town, village or city, by
18ordinance, passed by a two-thirds vote of all the members of each board or council,

1fixing the terms of the consolidation and ratified by the electors at a referendum held
2in each municipality. The ballots shall bear the words, "for consolidation", and
3"against consolidation", and if a majority of the votes cast in each municipality are
4for consolidation, the ordinances shall take effect and have the force of a contract.
5The ordinance and the result of the referendum shall be certified as provided in s.
666.0211 (5); if a town the certification shall be preserved as provided in ss. 66.0211
7(5) and 66.0235, respectively. Consolidation does not affect the preexisting rights or
8liabilities of any municipality and actions on those rights or liabilities may be
9commenced or completed as if there were no consolidation. A consolidation
10ordinance proposing the consolidation of a town and a city or village shall, within 10
11days after its adoption and prior to its submission to the voters for ratification at a
12referendum, be submitted to the circuit court and the department of administration
13for a determination of whether the proposed consolidation is in the public interest.
14The circuit court shall determine whether the proposed ordinance meets the formal
15requirements of this section and shall then refer the matter to the department of
16administration, which shall find as prescribed in s. 66.0203 whether the proposed
17consolidation is in the public interest in accordance with the standards in s. 66.0207.
18The department's findings have the same status as incorporation findings under ss.
1966.0203 to 66.0213.
SB134, s. 15 20Section 15. 66.0230 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,10,2521 66.0230 (1) (a) In addition to the method described in s. 66.0229 and subject
22to subs. (2), (3), and (4) and to s. ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7), all or part of a
23town may consolidate with a contiguous city or village by ordinance passed by a
24two-thirds vote of all of the members of each board or council and ratified by the
25electors at a referendum held in each municipality.
SB134, s. 16
1Section 16. 66.0231 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,11,14 266.0231 Notice of certain litigation affecting municipal status or
3boundaries.
If a proceeding under ss. 61.187, 61.189, 61.74, 62.075, 66.0201 to
466.0213, 66.0215, 66.0216, 66.0217, 66.0221, 66.0223, 66.0227, 66.0301 (6), or
566.0307 or other sections relating to an incorporation, annexation, consolidation,
6dissolution or detachment of territory of a city or village is contested by instigation
7of legal proceedings, the clerk of the city or village involved in the proceedings shall
8file with the secretary of state 4 copies of a notice of the commencement of the action.
9The clerk shall file with the secretary of state 4 copies of any judgments rendered or
10appeals taken in such cases. The notices or copies of judgments that are required
11under this section may also be filed by an officer or attorney of any party of interest.
12The secretary of state shall forward to the department of transportation 2 copies and
13to the department of revenue and the department of administration one copy each
14of any notice of action or judgment filed with the secretary of state under this section.
SB134, s. 17 15Section 17. 66.0301 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,12,216 66.0301 (1) (a) In Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), in this section
17"municipality" means the state or any department or agency thereof, or any city,
18village, town, county, school district, public library system, public inland lake
19protection and rehabilitation district, sanitary district, farm drainage district,
20metropolitan sewerage district, sewer utility district, solid waste management
21system created under s. 59.70 (2), local exposition district created under subch. II of
22ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229,
23local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229, a local
24cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, family care district under s.
2546.2895, water utility district, mosquito control district, municipal electric company,

1county or city transit commission, commission created by contract under this section,
2taxation district, regional planning commission, or city-county health department.
SB134, s. 18 3Section 18. 66.0301 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB134,12,54 66.0301 (1) (c) For purposes of sub. (6), "municipality" means any city, village,
5or town.
Note: Provides a definition for use in new sub. (6) of s. 66.0301 created by Sec. 19
of this bill.
SB134, s. 19 6Section 19 . 66.0301 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
SB134,12,117 66.0301 (6) (a) Any 2 municipalities whose boundaries are immediately
8adjacent at any point may enter into a written agreement determining all or a portion
9of the common boundary line between the municipalities. An agreement under this
10subsection may include only the provisions authorized under this section and s.
1166.0305, and one or more of the following:
SB134,12,1212 1. That specified boundary lines apply on the effective date of the agreement.
SB134,12,1413 2. That specified boundary line changes shall occur during the term of the
14agreement and the approximate dates by which the changes shall occur.
SB134,12,1615 3. That specified boundary line changes may occur during the term of the
16agreement and the approximate dates by which the changes may occur.
SB134,12,1917 4. That a required boundary line change under subd. 2. or an optional boundary
18line change under subd. 3. is subject to the occurrence of conditions set forth in the
19agreement.
SB134,12,2120 5. That specified boundary lines may not be changed during the term of the
21agreement.
SB134,13,222 (b) The maximum term of an agreement under this subsection is 10 years.
23When an agreement expires, all provisions of the agreement expire, except that any

1boundary determined under the agreement remains in effect until subsequently
2changed.
SB134,13,133 (c) 1. Before an agreement under this subsection may take effect, and subject
4to par. (e), it must be approved by the governing body of each municipality by the
5adoption of a resolution. Before each municipality may adopt a resolution, each shall
6hold a public hearing on the agreement or both municipalities shall hold a joint
7public hearing on the agreement. Before the public hearing may be held, each
8municipality shall give notice of the pending agreement and public hearing by
9publishing a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and by giving notice to each property owner
10whose property is currently located in that municipality and in, or immediately
11adjacent to, the territory whose jurisdiction will change. Notice shall be given at
12least 20 days before the public hearing and notice to property owners shall be made
13by certified mail.
SB134,14,214 2. An agreement under this subsection is subject to a referendum of the electors
15residing within the territory whose jurisdiction is subject to change as a result of the
16agreement. After each municipality approves the agreement by adoption of a
17resolution, each municipality shall publish the agreement in the territory whose
18jurisdiction is subject to change as a result of the agreement as a class 1 notice, under
19ch. 985. A referendum shall be held if, within 30 days after the publication of the
20agreement, a petition for a referendum conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40,
21signed by at least 20 percent of the electors residing within the territory whose
22jurisdiction is subject to change as a result of the agreement is filed, in accordance
23with s. 8.37, with the clerk of each municipality that is a party to the agreement. The
24referendum shall be conducted jointly by the municipalities and shall otherwise be
25conducted as are annexation referenda. If the agreement is approved in the

1referendum, it may take effect. If the agreement is not approved in the referendum,
2it may not take effect.
SB134,14,83 (d) An agreement under this subsection may provide that, during the term of
4the agreement, no other procedure for altering a municipality's boundaries may be
5used to alter a boundary that is affected by the agreement, except an annexation
6conducted under s. 281.43 (1m), regardless of whether the boundary is proposed to
7be maintained or changed or is allowed to be changed under the agreement. After
8the agreement has expired, the boundary may be altered.
SB134,14,159 (e) A boundary change included in an agreement under this subsection shall
10be accomplished by the enactment of an ordinance by the governing body designated
11to do so in the agreement. The filing and recording requirements under s. 66.0217
12(9) (a), as they apply to cities and villages under s. 66.0217 (9) (a), apply to
13municipalities under this subsection. The requirements for the secretary of state
14under s. 66.0217 (9) (b), as they apply under that section, apply to the secretary of
15state when he or she receives an ordinance that is filed under this subsection.
SB134,14,1716 (f) No action to contest the validity of an agreement under this subsection may
17be commenced after 60 days from the date the agreement becomes effective.
SB134,14,2018 (g) This subsection is the exclusive authority under this section for entering
19into an agreement that determines all or a portion of the common boundary line
20between municipalities.
SB134,14,2421 (h) An agreement under this section that has been entered into before the
22effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], that affects the location of
23a boundary between municipalities, is not invalid as lacking authority under this
24section to affect the location of the boundary.

Note: Creates another tool for any two municipalities with a common boundary
to determine by agreement all or a portion of the common boundary line between them.
It is envisioned that this authority will be used, for example, by municipalities who wish
to make minor changes in their common boundaries or by municipalities who wish to
enter into an initial, shorter term agreement before developing a cooperative plan under
s. 66.0307.
Currently, there is no express authority under s. 66.0301 to enter into boundary
agreements and, although the section has been used for such agreements, has been
questioned by some (see the note concerning par. (h), below).
Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) provides the authority to enter into written
boundary agreements and the permitted content of those agreements. The authority
regarding boundary lines is patterned after the language found in s. 66.0307. The
agreements may also include provisions the party municipalities may agree to under s.
66.0301 generally and under s. 66.0305 (agreements to share revenues).
Paragraph (b) establishes the maximum term of an agreement at ten years
(although a boundary line established under an agreement remains until subsequently
changed). When it is desirable to have an agreement of longer duration, s. 66.0307 is
available (and, presumably, another agreement under this subsection could be entered
into).
Paragraph (c) sets forth the procedure for approving an agreement under this
subsection. The procedure includes a public hearing on the proposed agreement
(including individual notice to specified affected property owners); approval by the
governing body of each municipality by adoption of a resolution; and an optional
referendum of the electors residing within the territory whose jurisdiction is subject to
change as a result of the agreement.
Paragraph (d) authorizes an agreement under this subsection to provide that
during the term of the agreement no other procedure for altering a municipality's
boundaries may be used to alter a boundary affected by the agreement (with the exception
of an annexation conducted under s. 281.43 (1m), stats., relating to a department of
natural resources order for sewer service extension).
Paragraph (e) provides filing and recording requirements for boundary changes
pursuant to an agreement under the subsection. It is patterned after s. 66.0307 (10).
Paragraph (f) provides a statute of limitations for contesting the validity of an
agreement under the subsection. It is patterned after s. 66.0307 (11).
Paragraph (g) limits the authority under s. 66.0301 for entering into an agreement
that determines all or a portion of the common boundary line between municipalities to
that extended under the subsection.
Paragraph (h) is intended to eliminate uncertainty regarding the authority under
current s. 66.0301 to determine municipal boundaries. For example, at least one circuit
court has held that boundary agreements are not authorized under s. 66.0301. This
provision is intended to provide that agreements previously entered into under s. 66.0301
that affected the location of a boundary between municipalities are not invalid insofar as
lacking authority under s. 66.0301 to affect the location of the boundary.
SB134, s. 20 1Section 20. 66.0305 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,15,52 66.0305 (4) (b) An agreement entered into under sub. (2) may address any other
3appropriate matters, including any agreements with respect to services or
4agreements with respect to municipal boundaries under s. 66.0225, 66.0301 (6), or
566.0307.
SB134, s. 21
1Section 21. 66.0307 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 66.0307 (1) (am).
SB134, s. 22 2Section 22. 66.0307 (1) (af) of the statutes is created to read:
SB134,16,53 66.0307 (1) (af) "Comprehensive plan" means an adopted plan that contains
4the elements under s. 66.1001 (2) or, if a municipality has not adopted a plan that
5contains those elements, a master plan adopted under s. 62.23 (2) or (3).
Note: Provides a definition for the s. 66.0307 boundary agreement-by-cooperative
plan procedure.
SB134, s. 23 6Section 23. 66.0307 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,16,157 66.0307 (2) Boundary change authority. (intro.) Any combination of
8municipalities may determine the boundary lines between themselves under a
9cooperative plan that is approved by the department under this section. A single city
10or village and a single town may use the mediated agreement procedure under sub.
11(4m) to determine a common boundary line under a cooperative plan that is approved
12by the department under this section.
No boundary of a municipality may be
13changed or maintained under this section unless the municipality is a party to the
14cooperative agreement. The cooperative plan shall provide one or more of the
15following:
Note: Revised to reflect the creation by Sec. 29 of this bill of a new mediated
agreement procedure for developing a cooperative plan.
SB134, s. 24 16Section 24. 66.0307 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,17,217 66.0307 (3) (b) Purpose of plan. The cooperative plan shall be made with the
18general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and
19harmonious development of the territory covered by the plan which will, in
20accordance with existing and future needs, best promote public health, safety,
21morals, order, convenience, prosperity or the general welfare, as well as efficiency

1and economy in the process of development
consistent with the comprehensive plan
2of each participating municipality
.
Note: Links the purpose language for a cooperative plan under s. 66.0307 to each
participating municipality's comprehensive plan.
SB134, s. 25 3Section 25 . 66.0307 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB134,17,64 66.0307 (3) (c) Content of plan; consistency with comprehensive plan. The
5cooperative plan shall describe how it is consistent with each participating
6municipality's comprehensive plan.
Note: Repeals the detailed provisions of current s. 66.0307 (3) (c) specifying the
content of a cooperative plan for the physical development of the territory covered by the
plan. Substitutes a general requirement that the cooperative plan describe how it is
consistent with each participating municipality's comprehensive plan. The repealed
language provides as follows:
66.0307 (3) (c) Content of plan; physical development of territory. The cooperative
plan, and any accompanying maps, plats, charts and descriptive and explanatory
materials, shall show the plan agreed upon for the physical development of the territory
covered by the plan. The plan may include, without limitation because of enumeration,
any of the following:
1. The general location, character and extent of streets, highways, freeways, street
grades, roadways, walks, bridges, viaducts, parking areas, tunnels, public places and
areas, parks, parkways and playgrounds.
2. Sites for public buildings and structures, airports, pierhead and bulkhead lines
and waterways.
3. Routes for railroads and buses.
4. The general location and extent of sewers, water conduits and other public
utilities, whether privately or publicly owned.
5. The acceptance, widening, narrowing, extension, relocation, removal, vacation,
abandonment or change of use of any of the public ways, grounds, places, spaces,
buildings, properties, utilities, routes or terminals described in subds. 1. to 4.
6. Historic districts.
7. The general location, character and extent of community centers and
neighborhood units.
8. The general character, extent and layout of the replanning of blighted districts
and slum areas.
9. A comprehensive zoning plan.
SB134, s. 26 7Section 26. 66.0307 (3) (d) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB134,17,108 66.0307 (3) (d) 4. Include a statement explaining how any part of the plan
9related to the location of boundaries meets the approval criteria under sub. (5) (c)
104. and
5.
Note: Strikes a cross-reference to a statutory provision repealed by Sec. 32 of this
bill.
SB134, s. 27
1Section 27 . 66.0307 (3) (dm) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Repeals the current provision describing the required content of a
cooperative plan in connection with environmental consequences and housing needs.
Much of this will be addressed in a municipality's comprehensive plan. The repealed
language provides as follows:
66.0307 (3) (dm) Content of plan; environmental consequences and housing needs.
The cooperative plan shall:
1. Identify any significant adverse consequences to the natural environment,
including air and water pollution, energy use, development outside compact urban areas
and contribution to urban sprawl, that may be caused by the proposed physical
development of the territory covered by the plan.
2. Demonstrate that each participating municipality has considered alternatives
to the proposed physical development of the territory covered by the plan, in order to
minimize or avoid significant adverse environmental consequences, including those
under subd. 1., and include in the plan a description of the alternatives considered.
3. If the physical development of the territory covered by the plan is subject to
federal environmental laws or regulations, state laws or state environmental rules,
describe how compliance with the laws, regulations or rules will be achieved.
4. Address the need for safe and affordable housing to meet the needs of diverse
social and income groups in each municipality that is participating in the preparation of
the plan.
Loading...
Loading...