Number
100076
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN
Title
Resolution directing the Department of City Development to create a "Neighborhood Improvement District Handbook."
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of City Development to create a "Neighborhood Improvement District Handbook" that provides clear, easy-to-read information on the procedures for creating and operating a neighborhood improvement district. The Department shall complete this Handbook within 60 days of adoption of this resolution and place a copy of the Handbook on its website.
Body
Whereas, In 2006, the Wisconsin Legislature created the state's neighborhood improvement district law (s. 66.1110, Wis. Stats.), which enabled a municipality to create a neighborhood improvement district (or "NID") -- a defined geographic area from which the municipality collects special assessments that are used to fund various improvements (in such areas as public safety, litter control, streetscaping and marketing/promotion) within the neighborhood, as set forth in a NID project plan that is developed by the neighborhood and approved by the local governing body; and
Whereas, The 2006 NID law permitted special assessments to be collected only from non-residential taxable properties and from residential properties containing 8 or more dwelling units; and
Whereas, In 2010, the Wisconsin Legislature passed 2009 Wisconsin Act 147, which amended the NID law to allow for special assessments to be collected from all residential properties, not just large apartment buildings, thereby greatly expanding the potential application of the NID procedure to include predominantly single-family and duplex neighborhoods; and
Whereas, The creation and operation of neighborhood improvement districts could prove to be an invaluable tool for Milwaukee neighborhoods that seek to pool their financial resources to improve the quality of life within their boundaries; and
Whereas, Currently, there is limited knowledge among community-based organizations and neighborhood associations in Milwaukee -- particularly in predominantly single-family/duplex neighborhoods -- of the procedures for establishing and operating NIDs; and
Whereas, The Department of City Development is the City agency responsible for overseeing the creation of NIDs, including providing assistance to local organizations in the establishment of NIDS (i.e., assistance with petition forms and NID project plans, as well as writing the necessary City legislation); and
Whereas, The Department of City Development presently maintains information on the process of creating NIDs (outline of steps to create a NID, a timeline, a template of a project plan, etc.), but that information is not readily available to the public in a format that is useful and easy to understand; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of City Development is directed to create a "Neighborhood Improvement District Handbook" that provides clear, easy-to-read information on the procedures for establishing and operating a neighborhood improvement district; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the "Neighborhood Improvement District Handbook" shall include, at a minimum:
1. Introduction (state legislation, etc.).
2. Eligibility criteria for NID creation (including any criteria established by the Common Council).
3. Potential benefits of establishing a NID.
4. Activities and items that may be funded through NID (examples).
5. How the NID special assessment process works.
6. Steps in the creation of a NID and adoption of its project plan, including a timeline.
7. Information on the creation and operation of a NID's board (elections, etc.).
8. Sample NID petition form (template).
9. Sample NID project plan (template).
10. DCD contact information: name(s), phone number(s) and email address(es) of DCD staff assigned to work on NIDs.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of City Development shall complete preparation of the Handbook within 60 days of adoption of this resolution; and, be it
Further Resolved, That, upon completion of the Handbook, the Department of City Development is directed to place a copy of the Handbook on its website and to add "Neighborhood Improvement Districts" as an item on the website's "Subject List."
Requestor
Drafter
LRB10162-1
JDO
05/03/2010