229.844 Powers of a district. A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do all of the following:

(1) Adopt bylaws to govern the district's activities, subject to this subchapter.

(2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded.

(3) Maintain an office.

(4) In connection with cultural arts facilities or in support of any cultural arts activity:

(a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the cultural arts facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise or otherwise, or engage other persons to do these things.

(b) Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; use; or transfer property within or outside of the district's jurisdiction.

(c)

1. If the district's sponsoring city is not a 1st class city, acquire property by condemnation, subject to the limits specified in the resolution under s. 229.842 (1) (c) or the ordinance or resolution under s. 229.846 (6).

2. If the district's sponsoring city is a 1st class city, request the 1st class city's redevelopment authority, created under s. 66.1333 (3) (a) 3., to condemn property on behalf of the district.

(d) Enter into contracts, subject to such standards as may be established by the district board. The district board may award any such contract for any combination or division of work it designates and may consider any factors in awarding a contract, including price, time for completion of work and qualifications and past performance of a contractor.

(e) Grant concessions.

(5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under s. 66.0301 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, other than a benefit plan provided under ch. 40, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan.

(6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under s. 66.0301, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance, other than a plan provided under ch. 40.

(7) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the district's revenue, property or funds.

(8)

(a) Issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0621, subject to ss. 229.849 to 229.853, and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds by the district or, for purposes related to the district, by a community development authority created under s. 66.1335, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements.

(b) Contract short term obligations, and pledge the full faith and credit of the district for repayment of those obligations.

(c) No director, employee of the district nor any other person executing any agreements with respect to any bonds or other obligations under this subsection is personally liable on the obligations or subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of such obligations.

(9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the district board considers appropriate.

(10) Promote, advertise and publicize its cultural arts facilities and related cultural arts activities.

(11) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its cultural arts facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order.

(12) Establish and collect fees, and establish shared revenue arrangements or other charges for the use of its cultural arts facilities or for services rendered by the district.

(13) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the district's purposes.

(14) Solicit and accept gifts, loans, grants of land or other property and other aid, and agree to conditions with respect to such gifts, loans, grants or other aid.

(15) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the repayment of debt contracted by the district.

(16) Adopt and alter an official seal.

(17) Direct its agents or employees, if properly identified in writing, to enter upon any real property that the district has the authority to condemn, or that the redevelopment authority has the authority to condemn on behalf of the district, to make surveys and examinations before locating or constructing cultural arts facilities without incurring liability by the district, its agents or employees except for actual damage done. Before directing anyone to enter real property under this subsection, the district shall give the owner and occupant of the property at least 5 days' written notice. If the owner or occupant does not consent to the entry, the district may petition the circuit court for the county in which the property is located for an order permitting entry upon the property. The district shall serve a copy of the petition upon the owner and occupant. Before issuing an order, the court shall require the district to demonstrate the necessity of the entry and shall examine the reasonableness of the proposed scope, time, place and manner of the entry. The court may impose appropriate limitations upon the entry in its order.

(18) Provide money or other property, by sale, loan, lease, grant, gift or other form of transfer, to any other person.

History: 1999 a. 65, 186; 2005 a. 148.