229.66 Creation and organization.

(1) There is created, for each jurisdiction under s. 229.67, a special district that is a local governmental unit, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state, that has the powers under s. 229.68 and the name of which includes “Professional Baseball Park District".

(2) A district is governed by its district board. The district board may adopt bylaws to govern the district's activities, subject to this subchapter. Subject to sub. (3), the district board shall consist of the following members:

(a) A number of persons equal to the number of counties within the jurisdiction of the district plus one, appointed by the governor. At least one of the persons appointed by the governor shall reside within each county that is within the jurisdiction of the district. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by the senate.

(b) Two persons appointed by the chief executive officer of the most populous county within the jurisdiction of the district, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chief executive officer. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the county board.

(c) One person for each county in the jurisdiction of the district other than the most populous county within the jurisdiction of the district, appointed by the chief executive officer of that county. Each person appointed under this paragraph for a county shall serve at the pleasure of the chief executive officer in that county. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the county board.

(g) One person appointed by the mayor of the most populous city within the jurisdiction of a district or if that city is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the president of the council of that city, who shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation or rejection by a majority of the members-elect of the common council or council.

(3) Upon appointment under sub. (2), the appointing authorities shall certify the appointees to the secretary of administration. The term of office of 50 percent of the persons appointed under sub. (2) (a) is 2 years, and the term of office of the other 50 percent of the persons appointed under sub. (2) (a) is 4 years, except that if an odd number of persons is appointed under sub. (2) (a), there shall be one more office with a term of 4 years than there are offices with terms of 2 years, and except that for the initial appointments for a newly created district the initial terms shall expire on July 1 of the 2nd year beginning after creation of a district for persons appointed to 2-year terms, and the initial terms shall expire on July 1 of the 4th year beginning after creation of a district for persons appointed to 4-year terms. Persons appointed under sub. (2) (a) may be removed from the district board before the expiration of their terms by the appointing authority but only for cause, as defined in s. 17.001. Vacancies for persons appointed under sub. (2) (a) shall be filled by the appointing authority who appointed the person whose office is vacant. A person appointed to fill a vacancy under sub. (2) (a) shall serve for the remainder of the term to which he or she is appointed. All of the appointing authorities shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the membership of the board is diverse with respect to race. Of the persons appointed under sub. (2), not more than 4 may reside in any one county.

(4) The governor shall select the chairperson of the district board and the district board shall elect from its membership a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. A majority of the current membership of the district board constitutes a quorum to do business. The district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of those directors who are present at a meeting of the district board.

(5) The members of the district board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(6) Upon the appointment and qualification of a majority of the members of a district board, the district board may exercise the powers and duties of a district board under this subchapter.

(7) At its first meeting the district board shall name the district.

History: 1995 a. 56; 2001 a. 103.