City of New Lisbon, WI Boards, Commissions and Committees

The Library Board shall have the duties and powers as prescribed by Ch. 43, Wis. Stats., and more particularly set forth in § 43.58, Wis. Stats. The Library Board shall appoint the Librarian and other library employees.

The Library Board shall submit annually to the Council an itemized budget of the estimated expenses of the library for the following year.[1]

Editor's Note: Original Sec. 2-4-3, Board of Health, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 10-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-1.

§ 20-3 Zoning Board of Appeals.

Establishment. A Zoning Board of Appeals shall be appointed as specified in § 62.23(7)(e), Wis. Stats. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five members and two alternate members appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Common Council, for a term of three years. The members shall be compensated as determined by the Council and shall be removable by the Common Council for cause upon written charges and upon public hearing. The Mayor shall designate one of the members Chairperson.

Powers.

[Amended 10-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-1]

The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have the following powers:

(a)

To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the City's zoning or building code regulations.

(b)

To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of City zoning and floodplain zoning or building code regulations upon which the Zoning Board of Appeals is required to pass.

(c)

To permit the erection and use of a building or premises in any location subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purposes of the zoning regulations, for such purposes which are reasonably necessary for public convenience and welfare.

The Zoning Board of Appeals may reverse or affirm, wholly or in part, or may modify any order, requirement, decision or determination appealed from and may make such order, requirement, decision or determination as in its opinion ought to be made. If a quorum is present, the Zoning Board of Appeals may take action by a majority vote of the members present. The grounds of every such determination shall be stated and recorded.

Meetings and rules. All meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be held at the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as the Board may determine. All hearings conducted by said Board shall be open to the public. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the City Clerk-Treasurer and shall be a public record. The Board shall adopt its own rules of procedure not in conflict with this section or with applicable Wisconsin Statutes.

Offices. The Common Council shall provide suitable meeting space for holding the hearings of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Appropriations. The Common Council shall appropriate funds to carry out the duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Board shall have the authority to expend, under regular procedures, all sums appropriated to it for the purposes and activities authorized herein.

§ 20-4 Plan Commission.

Composition. The Plan Commission shall consist of the Mayor, who shall be the presiding officer, one Alderperson and five citizens.

Appointment.

Election of Alderperson member. At its annual meeting in April of each year the Common Council shall, by a two-thirds majority vote of its members, elect one of its number as a member of the City Plan Commission for a period of one year from and after the first day of May next ensuing.

Appointment and terms of citizen members. The five citizen members shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to Council confirmation, on the third Tuesday of April in each year to hold office for staggered terms of three years commencing with the third Tuesday of April.[1]

Editor's Note: Original Sec. 2-4-5(c), Organization of Commission, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

Record. The Plan Commission shall keep a written record of its proceedings, to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Clerk-Treasurer. Four members shall constitute a quorum, but all actions shall require the affirmative approval of a majority of all of the members of the Commission.

Duties.

Comprehensive Plan.[2]

(a)

The Plan Commission may make, adopt and, as necessary, amend, extend or add to the Comprehensive Plan, subject to Common Council confirmation, for the physical development of the City, including areas outside of its boundaries which, in the Plan Commission's judgment, bear relation to the development of the City. The Comprehensive Plan, with the accompanying maps, plats and descriptive and explanatory matter, shall show the Commission's recommendations for such physical development and may include, among other things, without limitation because of enumeration, the general location, character and extent of streets, highways, freeways, street grades, roadways, walks, parking areas, public places and areas, parks, parkways, playgrounds, and sites for public buildings and structures; the general location and extent of sewers, water conduits and other public utilities, whether privately or publicly owned; the acceptance, widening, narrowing, extension, relocation, removal, vacation, abandonment or change of use of any of the foregoing public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities, routes or terminals; the general location, character and extent of community centers and neighborhood units; and a comprehensive zoning plan.

(b)

The Commission may adopt the Comprehensive Plan as a whole by a single resolution or, as the work of making the whole Comprehensive Plan progresses, may from time to time by resolution adopt a part or parts thereof, any such part to correspond generally with one or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative votes of not less than a majority of all the members of the Plan Commission, subject to confirmation by the Common Council. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter, and other matters intended by the Commission to form the whole or any part of the plan, and the action taken shall be recorded on the adopted plan or part thereof by the identifying signature of the Secretary of the Commission, and a copy of the plan or part thereof shall be certified to the Common Council. The purpose and effect of the adoption and certifying of the Comprehensive Plan or part thereof shall be solely to aid the Plan Commission and the Common Council in the performance of their duties.

[2]

Editor's Note: For adoption of the City's Comprehensive Plan see Ch. 493.

Mandatory referrals to Commission. The Common Council or officer of the City having final authority thereon shall refer to the Plan Commission, for its consideration and report before final action is taken by the Council, public body or officer, the following matters: the location of any statue or other memorial; the location, acceptance, extension, alteration, vacation, abandonment, change of use, sale, acquisition of land for or lease of land for any street, alley or other public ways, park, playground, airport, area for parking vehicles, or other memorial or public grounds; the location, extension, abandonment or authorization for any public utility, whether publicly or privately owned; all plats of lands in the City or within the territory over which the City is given platting jurisdiction by Ch. 236, Wis. Stats.; the location, character and extent or acquisition, leasing or sale of lands for public or semipublic housing, slum clearance, relief of congestion, or vacation camps for children; and the amendment or repeal of any land use ordinance. Unless such report from the Commission is made within 30 days, or such longer period as may be stipulated by the Common Council, the Council or other public body or officer may take final action without it.

(3)

Miscellaneous powers. The Commission may make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the City to public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations and citizens. It may recommend to the Common Council programs for public improvements. All public officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission, within a reasonable time, such available information as it may require for its work. The Commission, its members and employees, in the performance of its functions, may enter upon any land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon. In general, the Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote municipal planning in cooperation with the Common Council.

Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as appointment for the full term.

Compensation. Compensation shall be as established by the Common Council. Citizen members shall take the official oath as required by § 19.01, Wis. Stats., said oath to be filed with the City Clerk-Treasurer.

§ 20-5 Park and Pool Committee. [1]

Members. The Park and Pool Committee shall consist of an Alderperson appointed annually by the Mayor and four citizens appointed by the Mayor for four-year terms, with the terms staggered so that not more than one citizen shall be appointed each year. All appointments by the Mayor shall be subject to confirmation by the Common Council. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as appointment for the full term. The Alderperson shall serve as Chairperson. The Committee shall, immediately after May 1 of each year, elect one member as Secretary of the Committee and may create and elect such other officers as may be deemed necessary.

Powers and duties. The Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Common Council with respect to matters involving Riverside Park and the City's swimming pool. The Committee shall also discharge such other and further duties as may be determined by the Common Council.

Record. The Park and Pool Committee shall keep a written record of its proceedings, to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Clerk-Treasurer.

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 20-6 Police and Fire Commission.

[Amended 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-1[1]]

The Police and Fire Commission shall consist of five citizens, three of whom shall constitute a quorum. The Mayor shall annually, between the last Monday of April and the first Monday of May, appoint in writing, to be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, one member for a term of five years. Effective with the appointment made in the year 2001, the fifth member of the Commission shall be a Common Council member who shall hold office as a Commission member as a yearly appointment made by the Mayor and approved by the Council. No appointment shall be made which will result in more than three members of the Commission belonging to the same political party. The Commission shall keep a record of its proceedings. The Police and Fire Commission shall have the power and authority prescribed by § 62.13, Wis. Stats., including the optional powers prescribed in § 62.13(6), Wis. Stats., and this Code of Ordinances. All members of the Commission shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of $40 per meeting. If a member of the Commission serves as Secretary, he or she shall receive an annual prorated compensation of $300.

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 20-7 Utility Commission.

Findings and purpose. The City of New Lisbon finds that the ownership and operation of water and electric utilities by the City is in the public interest. To that end, the City has long entrusted the management of its water and electric utilities to an independent and nonpartisan body, the New Lisbon Utility Commission. This section is intended to recodify the powers of the Utility Commission.

Successor status. The Utility Commission established under this section is a successor to the City's existing Utility Commission. It has all the rights, duties, powers and interests which the existing Utility Commission possesses, whether granted by ordinance, statute, contract or otherwise. The existing Commissioners shall serve the remainder of their present terms of office.

Creation. There is hereby created an independent and nonpartisan Utility Commission to manage and operate the electric and water utilities of the City.

Membership; terms. The Utility Commission shall consist of five Commissioners. One of the five Commissioners shall be an Alderperson who shall serve on the Commission without additional compensation and whose term shall be for one year. The remaining four Commissioners shall be customers of the Utility (either personally or through a business in which they have an ownership interest), each of whom shall serve a five-year term. These terms shall be staggered so that no more than one Commissioner's term shall expire each year. The Mayor shall be an ex officio member of the Commission without authority to vote.

Appointments. The Mayor shall appoint and the Common Council shall confirm the Commissioners at its annual organizational meeting for terms to commence immediately thereafter. The position held by a Common Council representative and any position for which a term expires in a subsequent year shall be appointed/confirmed in a like manner. In the case of a vacancy on the Commission during an appointed term, the vacancy shall be filled by nomination of the Mayor and approval by the Common Council for the remainder of the term.

[Amended 10-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-1]

Powers of Commission.

Charge and management. The Commission shall take entire charge and management of the City's electric utility and water utility and any other public utility authorized by the Common Council. The Commission shall have full authority to supervise the operation of the utility subject only to the general control and supervision of the Common Council, with such general control and supervision being exercised through the enactment and amendment of this section.

Manager. The Commission shall appoint a Utility Manager, fix his/her compensation and duties and provide for the authority of the Manager to act on behalf of the Commission.

(3)

Other employees; consultants. The Commission may employ and fix the compensation of such other employees as the Commission deems necessary or convenient for the management and operation of the City's utilities. The Commission also may employ the services and fix the compensation of such other agents or consultants as the Commission deems necessary or convenient for the operation and management of the utilities.

(4)

Rates, rules and regulations. The Commission shall have the authority to fix rates and establish rules and regulations for the governance, management and operation of the utilities, subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and establish rules for the governance of its own proceedings.

(5)

Contract. The Commission shall have full authority to let bids and enter into contracts in the name of the City, provided that such contracts are necessary or convenient to the management and operation of the utilities.

(6)

Other powers. The Commission shall have such other powers as are necessary or convenient to the management and operation of the City's public utilities, and the City intends that the Commission shall have full authority respecting the utilities unless that authority is specifically withheld by statute.

Organization. The Commissioners shall choose from among their number a President and Secretary and shall appoint a Utility Clerk who shall perform the duties of a bonded cashier, shall keep accurate books and accounts of utility revenues and expenses, and shall perform such other duties as the Commission shall from time to time direct. The Utility Clerk, before taking office, shall give a bond to the City for the faithful performance of the duties of his/her office in such amount as the Utility Commission shall direct. The bond shall be approved by the Mayor and filed with the City Clerk-Treasurer.

Utility expenses. Utility expenses shall be audited by the Commission at its regular meeting and, if approved by its President and Secretary, shall be paid by the City Clerk-Treasurer pursuant to § 66.0607(4), Wis. Stats. The Commission may authorize the payment of labor, salaries and such other regular expenses as the Commission may determine, including but not limited to power and fuel bills, to be paid as they become due, if approved by the President and Secretary.

Receipts. All utility receipts shall be paid to the Utility Clerk and be turned over by the Utility Clerk to the City Clerk-Treasurer at least once a month. Utility funds shall be separately accounted for by the water and electric utilities and shall be subject to disposition as the Commission shall direct.

Construction; definitions. This section shall be liberally construed to effect its purpose. As used herein, the term "management and control" or "management and operation" shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation by enumeration, all authority related to the utility properties of the City and all authority related to purchasing, acquiring, leasing, constructing, adding to, improving, conducting, controlling, operating, or managing the City's public utilities, except as specifically withheld by statute.

Compensation. All members of the Commission shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of $40 per meeting. If a member of the Commission serves as Secretary, he or she shall receive an annual prorated compensation of $300.

[Added 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-1]

§ 20-8 Room Tax Commission.

[Added 10-17-2016 by Ord. No. 09-16-01[1]]

The New Lisbon Room Tax Commission is created pursuant to § 66.75, Wis. Stats.[2]The Commission shall have five members appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. At least one of the members shall be a member of the City Council and one member shall be a representative in good standing of the City of New Lisbon's hotel/motel industry. All of the Commissioners shall serve one-year terms commencing with the third Tuesday in April.

[2]

Editor's Note: See § 66.0615, Wis. Stats.

The Commission shall monitor the collection of room taxes in the City of New Lisbon pursuant to City Ordinance §§ 63-35 to 63-53; contract with the New Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce or other entity authorized by law for staff and support services to develop and implement tourism promotions for the City of New Lisbon; approve an annual budget in conjunction with the New Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce or other entity allowed by law to create a marketing plan and other appropriate programs; and discharge all duties assigned to it in § 66.75 et seq, Wis. Stats.[3]

[3]

Editor's Note: See § 66.0615, Wis. Stats.

Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former §§ 20-8 through 20-10 as §§ 20-9 through 20-11.

§ 20-9 Meetings and public notice.

Regular meetings; public notice. Every board, committee and commission created by or existing under the ordinances of the City shall fix a regular date, time and place for its meetings.

Notice of meetings.

Every meeting of any board or commission of the City of New Lisbon and/or any committee appointed or created by the Mayor or Common Council of the City of New Lisbon shall be preceded by public notice and shall be held in open session at a place acceptable to the public in accordance with the provisions of Subchapter V, Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies, of Ch. 19, Wis. Stats., unless otherwise authorized by law.