Number
020443
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. DONOVAN
Title
Resolution directing the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to seek introduction and passage of state enabling legislation for the creation of neighborhood improvement districts by municipalities.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to lobby for introduction and passage of state legislation that would enable municipalities to create "neighborhood improvement districts." Under the neighborhood improvement district concept, residential properties in a specific geographic area could be assessed for special capital improvements or soft-cost expenditures that benefit that area.
Body
Whereas, Section 66.1109, Wis. Stats., permits municipalities to create "business improvement districts" ("BIDs"), specific geographic areas in which property owners pay special assessments to cover the cost of capital improvements or marketing activities for their commercial areas; and
Whereas, This law prohibits the levying of BID assessments on real property used exclusively for residential purposes; and
Whereas, Currently, there is no state enabling legislation to permit the creation of "neighborhood improvement districts" ("NIDs"), areas consisting partly or entirely of residential properties that would be subject to special assessments used to fund both capital improvements (e.g., streetscaping, additional streetlighting, etc.) and soft-cost items (e.g., additional security patrols or litter pick-ups) analogous to the way BID special assessments can be used in commercial areas; and
Whereas, The City Attorney's Office, in an letter dated June 18, 2002, has opined that, in the absence of state enabling legislation, the City of Milwaukee lacks the authority to specially assess residential properties to pay for the soft-cost items included in the NID concept; and
Whereas, Various residential and mixed-use neighborhoods in the City of Milwaukee could benefit from the creation of NIDs, which would help those neighborhoods fund efforts to improve safety, property upkeep and overall neighborhood appearance and quality of life; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration is directed to lobby for introduction and passage of state legislation that would enable municipalities to create "neighborhood improvement districts" in which residential properties in specific geographic areas could be assessed for special capital improvements or soft-cost expenditures that benefit those areas.
Requestor
Drafter
02319-1
JDO
6/21/02