Law

Title 15 Cities and Towns

Wyoming · 15 · statute

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Contents: 542 provisions

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542 provisions

15-1-302. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-303. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-304. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-305. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-306. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-307. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-308. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-309. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-310. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-311. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-312. Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

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15-1-401. Definitions.

(a) As used in this article: (i) "Business day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday as established by the annexing municipality; (ii) "Landowner" means the owner of real property in the territory proposed to be annexed who in the last calendar year was liable for a property tax thereon or was exempt by law from the payment of taxes on the property. Anyone having a right to purchase land under a written contract is the owner of that land for annexation purposes. For purposes of W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-404 and 15-1-405 "landowner" shall include persons owning property which, as a result of the proposed annexation would then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the corporate limits of a city which has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii); (iii) "Petition" means a legibly written document.

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15-1-402. Annexing territories; findings required; when contiguity not deemed affected; annexation report.

(a) Before any territory is eligible for annexation, the governing body of any city or town at a hearing as provided in W.S. 15-1-405 shall find that: (i) An annexation of the area is for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the persons residing in the area and in the city or town; (ii) The urban development of the area sought to be annexed would constitute a natural, geographical, economical and social part of the annexing city or town; (iii) The area sought to be annexed is a logical and feasible addition to the annexing city or town and the extension of basic and other services customarily available to residents of the city or town shall, within reason, be available to the area proposed to be annexed; (iv) The area sought to be annexed is contiguous with or adjacent to the annexing city or town, or the area meets the requirements of W.S. 15-1-407; (v) If the city or town does not own or operate its own electric utility, its governing body is prepared to issue one (1) or more franchises as necessary to serve the annexed area pursuant to W.S. 15-1-410; and (vi) The annexing city or town, not less than twenty (20) business days prior to the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a), has sent by certified mail to all landowners and affected public utilities within the territory and by first class mail to any persons owning property that is adjacent to or within three hundred (300) feet of the territory proposed to be annexed, regardless of whether the property is inside or outside the corporate limits of the annexing city or town and regardless of whether the city or town is exercising authority under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii), a summary of the proposed annexation report as required under subsection (c) of this section and notice of the time, date and location of the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a). (b) Contiguity will not be adversely affected by the existence of a platted street or alley, a public or private right-of-way, a public or private transportation right-of-way, a lake, stream, reservoir or other natural or artificial waterway located between the annexing city or town and the land sought to be annexed. (c) An annexing municipality shall prepare a proposed annexation report as specified in this subsection. The report shall, at a minimum, contain: (i) A map of the area proposed to be annexed showing identifiable landmarks and boundaries and the area which will, as a result of the annexation then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the new corporate limits of the city, if it has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii); (ii) The total estimated cost of infrastructure improvements required of all landowners by the annexing municipality related to the annexation; (iii) A list of basic and other services customarily available to residents of the city or town and a timetable when those services will reasonably be available to the area proposed to be annexed; (iv) A projected annual fee or service cost for services described in paragraph (iii) of this subsection; (v) The current and projected property tax mill levies imposed by the municipality; and (vi) The cost of infrastructure improvements required within the existing boundaries of the municipality to accommodate the proposed annexation. (d) For annexations initiated under W.S. 15-1-403, the city or town may collect the cost of preparing the proposed annexation report from the petitioning landowners. (e) Before any territory is eligible for annexation the governing body shall prepare for each landowner and affected public utility so requesting in writing, the estimated cost of infrastructure improvements required of the landowner and affected public utility related to the annexation. The request shall be made to the clerk of the annexing municipality not less than ten (10) days prior to the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a). The estimate shall be provided to the landowner and affected public utility prior to the hearing.

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15-1-403. Annexing territories; initiation of proceedings;

by landowners' petition; validity of signatures; determinations. (a) The proceedings for annexation of eligible territory may be initiated by a written petition filed with the clerk of the city or town to which annexation of the territory is proposed, after compliance with the following conditions and procedures: (i) The petition is signed and dated by a majority of the landowners owning a majority of the area sought to be annexed, excluding public streets and alleys and tax exempt property; (ii) The petition contains the following detailed information: (A) A legal description of the area sought to be annexed; (B) A request that the described territory be annexed; (C) A statement that each signer is an owner of land and a description of his land within the area proposed to be annexed; and (D) A map of the area. (b) No signature on the petition is valid if it is dated more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date of filing the petition with the clerk. No person signing a petition for annexation may withdraw his signature from the petition after it has been filed with the clerk. (c) The clerk shall within ten (10) days from the date the petition is filed, determine if the petition substantially complies with this article. (d) If the petition complies, the clerk shall certify compliance, and the procedure outlined in W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-405 and 15-1-406 shall then be followed. If it does not comply the petitioner shall be notified that no further action will be taken on the petition until compliance is made.

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15-1-404. Annexing territories; initiation of proceedings; by governing bodies; determination.

(a) The governing body of any city or town may initiate proceedings to annex territory by the following procedure: (i) Reasonable evidence shall be procured by the governing body indicating that a specific area meets the conditions and limitations of W.S. 15-1-402; (ii) The governing body shall: (A) Cause to be prepared a legal description, a listing of the current mailing address of each landowner as shown in the records of the county assessor and a map showing identifiable landmarks and boundaries of the area considered for annexation and the area which will, as a result of the annexation then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the new corporate limits of the city, if it has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii); (B) Determine if the area considered for annexation complies with W.S. 15-1-402; (C) Prepare a proposed annexation report as required by W.S. 15-1-402(c); (D) Prepare for each landowner or public utility so requesting in writing, the foreseeable changes to zoning, animal control and other health and safety requirements requiring immediate compliance by the landowner or public utility at the time of annexation. The request shall be made to the clerk of the annexing municipality not less than ten (10) days prior to the public hearing required under W.S. 15-1-405(a). The foreseeable changes shall be provided to the landowner or public utility prior to the hearing. (b) If the area complies with W.S. 15-1-402, the governing body shall adopt a resolution certifying compliance, and the procedure outlined in W.S. 15-1-405 and 15-1-406 shall then be followed. If the area does not comply, no further action shall be taken on the proposed annexation.

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15-1-405. Annexing territories; public hearing required; notice thereof.

(a) In any annexation proceeding the governing body shall establish a date, time and place for a public hearing to determine if the proposed annexation complies with W.S. 15-1-402. The hearing shall be held not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the petition has been certified to be complete. (b) The clerk shall give notice of the public hearing by publishing a notice at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the territory sought to be annexed. The first notice shall be given at least fifteen (15) business days prior to the date of the public hearing. The notice shall contain a location map which includes identifiable landmarks and boundaries of the area sought to be annexed and the area which will, as a result of the annexation then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the new corporate limits of the city, if it has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii). The notice shall include a summary of the proposed annexation report prepared pursuant to W.S. 15-1-402(c). Upon written request to the clerk of the annexing municipality, the clerk shall provide a legal description of the area and the names of the persons owning property within the area.

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15-1-406. Annexing territories; annexation ordinance; objections; exception; prohibition.

(a) If after the hearing the governing body finds that the conditions required by W.S. 15-1-402 exist and that the required procedures have been met, it shall by ordinance annex the territory. Upon completion of annexation procedures, the clerk of the annexing municipality shall file with the county clerk a map of the area to be annexed and a copy of the ordinance approved by the governing body of the annexing municipality. (b) If more than fifty percent (50%) of the landowners, or if a landowner or landowners owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the area to be annexed file written objections with the clerk of the annexing municipality within twenty (20) business days after the hearing under W.S. 15-1-405(a) no further action under W.S. 15-1-404 may be taken on any area within the proposed annexation within two (2) years. (c) If seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the perimeter of the area to be annexed is contiguous to the corporate limits of the annexing city or town, the provisions of subsection (b) of this section do not apply. (d) No annexation under W.S. 15-1-404 shall create an area which is situated entirely within the boundaries of the city or town but is not annexed.

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15-1-407. Annexing territories; when notice and public hearing not necessary; statement required.

If the city is the sole owner of any territory whether or not contiguous that it desires to annex, the governing body, by ordinance, may annex the territory to the city or town without notice or public hearing as provided in W.S. 15-1-405 and without preparing the annexation report or providing the estimates required by W.S. 15-1-402(c) and (e) and 15-1-404(a)(ii)(C) and (D). All ordinances annexing territory without notice and public hearing shall contain a statement that the territory is solely owned by the petitioning city or town.

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15-1-408. Annexing territories; effective dates.

The annexation of any territory is effective upon publication of the ordinance, unless another date is specified in the ordinance. The effective date of the annexation ordinance shall not be less than twenty (20) business days after the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a). For purposes of real and personal property taxation, the annexation is not effective until January 1 next following the effective date of the ordinance. If an appeal is filed and perfected by a person other than a utility, the effective date is January 1 next following the court's final decision of the matter. If an appeal of the franchise decision is filed and perfected by a utility, the annexation is effective upon the publication of the ordinance unless another date is specified in the ordinance, but the appealing utility shall be permitted to continue its present service in the annexed area until the court's final decision of the matter.

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15-1-409. Annexing territories; appeal; determination; time for review; exclusiveness of appeal remedy.

(a) If any landowner in the territory proposed to be annexed or any owner of real property in the annexing city or town, or utility is aggrieved by the acts of the governing body, he may appeal to the district court for a review of the acts or findings thereof. (b) If the court determines that the action taken was capricious or arbitrary, or if it appears from the evidence that the landowner's right in his property is being unwarrantedly invaded or that the governing body abused its discretion, the court shall declare the annexing ordinance void. If the court determines the action of the governing body was proper and valid, it shall sustain the ordinance. (c) All proceedings to review the findings and the decisions of the governing body or actions to determine the validity of the annexation ordinance pursuant to the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act shall be brought within sixty (60) days of the effective date of the annexation ordinance, and if not brought within that time are forever barred.

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15-1-410. Annexing territories; extension of laws and rights; extension of public utility service.

(a) The territory and inhabitants of any annexed area are subject to all the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city or town to which they are annexed and are entitled to all the rights, privileges and franchises or other services afforded the inhabitants thereof. The services shall be provided in accordance with the timetable provided pursuant to W.S. 15-1-402(c)(iii). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no law, ordinance, rule or regulation of a municipality annexing property under W.S. 15-1-404 shall restrict the continuous use of the property by a current or subsequent owner of an interest in the property, if the use was existing at any time within the year prior to the date of annexation and was lawful at the time the property was annexed. For purposes of this subsection, a use which has been discontinued for any one (1) year period after the date of annexation shall not be considered continuous and shall not thereafter be reestablished unless in conformance with current law, ordinance, rule or regulation. (b) The governing body of the annexing municipality shall, within thirty (30) days after the date of the annexation, give written notice of the annexation to all public electric utilities presently providing service within the annexed area and, except in the case of an annexing municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, any area adjacent to the annexed area. Except in the case of an annexing municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, any of those public utilities required to be notified may, within sixty (60) days after the date of annexation, petition the governing body of the annexing city or town for a franchise to serve additional portions within the annexed area or the entire annexed area. Except in the case of a municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, any petitioning utility which does not currently hold a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the annexed area shall petition the public service commission for a certificate to include the annexed area, and if two (2) or more public electric utilities have been granted or are seeking a certificate of public convenience and necessity to serve the annexed area, the public service commission shall determine, following a hearing, which utility or utilities should be certificated in the public interest to provide service to the annexed area. No recipient of a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall serve any portion of the annexed area without the consent of the governing body of the annexing city or town and provided that the entire annexed area is served under one (1) or more certificates of public convenience and necessity. (c) Except in the case of an annexing municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, the governing body of the annexing municipality shall hold an appropriate public hearing and, upon determining that one (1) or more petitioning public utilities can meet the terms and conditions of a franchise, issue franchises to one (1) or more utilities to serve portions of or the entire annexed area. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing contained in this section shall limit the right of a municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility to extend its electric service into any area annexed by the municipality, and nothing contained in this section shall subject any such municipality to the jurisdiction of the public service commission.

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15-1-411. Incorporation of territory within potential urban area.

All territory within one (1) mile of an incorporated city or town, as it now exists or may hereafter be established, is potentially an urban area. No territory within a potential urban area may be incorporated as a city or town unless the governing body of the city or town causing the potential urbanized area to exist, by resolution, approves the proposed incorporation.

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15-1-412. When written consent of landowners required for annexation; exception.

No tract of land or any part thereof, whether consisting of one (1) parcel or two (2) or more contiguous parcels owned by one (1) landowner or owned jointly by two (2) or more landowners as cotenants, which comprises forty (40) acres or more and which together with the buildings or improvements situated thereon has an assessed valuation in excess of forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) as of the current assessment for property tax purposes, may be annexed without the written consent of the landowner or landowners, unless the tract of land is situated entirely within the boundaries of the annexing city or town.

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15-1-413. Survey of boundaries; when and how to be made; presumption once recorded.

(a) If the boundaries of any city or town are uncertain or incapable of ascertainment, the governing body, by ordinance, may provide for a survey thereof. If the survey is made, the boundaries shall be marked by substantial monuments, and the person making the survey shall report to the governing body describing the boundaries by metes and bounds. The description as nearly as possible shall refer, if upon surveyed lands, to the corners or lines of the United States surveys. The person making the survey shall also file with the city or town clerk the field notes of his survey. The city or town clerk shall then file a copy of the report and a copy of the field notes certified by the mayor and clerk with the county clerk for the county in which the city or town is located. (b) Any survey made and recorded as provided in subsection (a) of this section is presumptive of the boundaries of the city or town, and any copy thereof certified by the county clerk shall be received in evidence in any court of this state. (c) The city or town clerk shall file a copy of an official map or legal description designating the geographical boundaries of the city or town or the changes to its geographical boundaries with the department of revenue, the county assessor and the county clerk in the county or counties within which the city or town is located in accordance with the department's rules adopted pursuant to W.S. 39-11-102(c)(xxiv) regarding tax districts, with any special district affected by the boundary change and as follows: (i) Within ten (10) days after the effective date of formation; and (ii) Within thirty (30) days if a city or town has changes to its geographical boundaries by annexation or de-annexation.

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15-1-414. Survey of boundaries; oath required; filing thereof.

(a) Any person making the survey who is not an officer of the city or town, before entering upon the work, shall subscribe an oath to: (i) Faithfully, diligently and to the best of his ability make the survey; (ii) Make field notes and report accurately the results of the survey and the description of the boundaries. (b) The oath shall be filed with the city or town clerk and a copy thereof shall be attached to the certificate filed with the county clerk.

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15-1-415. Additions to cities or towns by subdividing

landowners; plat requirements; filing and effect thereof; controlling layout of streets. (a) The owner of any land within or contiguous to any city or town may subdivide the land into lots, blocks, streets, avenues and alleys and other grounds under the name of .... addition to the city (town) of .... An accurate map or plat shall be made designating the subdivided land and particularly describing the lots, blocks, streets, avenues and alleys and other grounds of the addition. The lots must be designated by numbers, and the streets, avenues and other grounds by name or numbers. (b) The plat shall: (i) Be acknowledged before some officer authorized to acknowledge deeds; (ii) Have appended a survey made by a land surveyor registered under the laws of this state with a certificate that he has accurately surveyed the addition, and that the parts thereof are accurately staked off and marked with an appropriate metal monument including magnetic iron, inscribed at least with the registration number of the land surveyor to provide source identification, at all lot corners and survey control points of the addition. (c) When the map or plat is made out, acknowledged, certified and approved by the governing body, it shall be filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk. When filed it is equivalent to a deed in fee simple to the city or town from the owner, of all streets, avenues, alleys, public squares, parks and commons and of that portion of the land set apart for public and city use, or dedicated to charitable, religious or educational purposes. All additions thus laid out are a part of the city or town for all purposes, and the inhabitants of the addition are entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city or town. (d) The governing body, by ordinance, may compel the owner of any addition to lay out streets, avenues and alleys to correspond in width and direction and be continuations of the streets, ways and alleys in the city or town or other additions thereto. No addition is valid unless the terms and conditions of the ordinance are complied with and the plat submitted and approved by the governing body. (e) With respect to any water rights appurtenant to lands to be subdivided in accordance with this section and prior to certification and approval of the map or plat the governing body shall require the owner to submit to the governing body the following: (i) The intended disposition of the water rights, by: (A) Written documentation from the state engineer or the state board of control that the owner submitted to the state engineer or the state board of control all documents necessary to voluntarily abandon the water rights, cancel any unadjudicated permits or eliminate applicable lands from any unadjudicated permits. The owner shall notify any purchasers of this action; (B) Written documentation from the state board of control that the owner submitted to the state board of control all documents necessary to change the use or place of use to provide for beneficial use of the water rights outside the subdivision, which may include a transfer to the city or town for use within its municipal water service boundaries; (C) A plan, accompanied by written documentation from the state engineer approving the plan, for the distribution of the water rights appurtenant to the land to be subdivided. The plan shall specify the distribution of the water to the lots within the subdivision and shall include written documentation from the state board of control that the owner submitted to the state board of control all documents necessary to change the use, place of use or point of diversion or means of conveyance in accordance with W.S. 41-3-103, 41-3-104 or 41-3-114; or (D) Written documentation from the state board of control that it has accepted an authorization to detach water rights appurtenant to the lands to be subdivided in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state board of control. (ii) If the subdivision is located within lands served by or crossed by a ditch, irrigation works or other water conveyance system, evidence that the owner submitted the subdivision map or plat to the public entity, company, association or appropriators responsible for the ditch, irrigations works or other water conveyance system for review and recommendations at least sixty (60) days prior to the submittal of the map or plat to the governing body. Upon receipt of the subdivision map or plat, the public entity, company, association or appropriators shall notify the owner if and how the subdivision will create a significant additional burden or risk of liability; (iii) Evidence that the owner will specifically state on all offers and solicitations relative to the subdivision the owner's intent to comply with this paragraph and that the owner does not warrant to a purchaser that the purchaser shall have any rights to the natural flow of any stream within or adjacent to the proposed subdivision. The owner shall further state that Wyoming law does not recognize any riparian rights to the continued natural flow of a stream or river for persons living on the banks of the stream or river; (iv) If the subdivision is located within the boundaries of an irrigation district that is subject to the provisions of title 41, chapter 7 of the Wyoming statutes, the map or plat shall be accompanied by recommendations from the irrigation district regarding any changes to the attached water rights and the irrigation district's easements. If there is a conflict with the irrigation district's recommendations, the owner shall certify that it met with and made a good faith effort to resolve any conflicts with the irrigation district; and (v) If the subdivision will create a significant additional burden or risk of liability to the public entity, company, association or appropriators responsible for the ditch, irrigation works or other water conveyance system, the owner shall provide an adequate and responsible plan to reduce or eliminate the additional burden or risk of liability and evidence that the owner submitted the plan to the public entity, company, association or appropriators for review and recommendation regarding the adequacy of the plan.

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15-1-416. Landowner petition to exclude tract from city or

town; disposition thereof; exclusion of land for highway purposes. (a) Repealed By Laws 1997, ch. 158, § 3. (b) Repealed By Laws 1997, ch. 158, § 3. (c) The governing body may exclude from any city or town land sufficient for the construction of state highways. Notice of the intended action and the time and place of public hearing for objections shall be published once each week for four (4) consecutive weeks prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the city or town. No action may be taken by the governing body to exclude land for highway purposes over the objection of any owner of property to be excluded.

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15-1-417. Annexing contiguous cities or towns; procedure.

(a) When any city or town desires to be annexed to another contiguous city or town, their governing bodies shall meet to determine the terms and conditions on which the proposed annexation might be made. If the governing body of each city or town approves of the terms and conditions proposed, the governing body of the city or town to be annexed shall circulate a written petition requesting annexation subject to the terms and conditions set forth in W.S. 15-1-403 among the city's or town's qualified registered electors. Once the petition is signed by at least a majority of the qualified registered electors residing in the city or town, as determined by the records of the county clerk, it shall be filed with the clerk of the annexing city or town. (b) No signature on the petition is valid if it is dated more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date of filing the petition for annexation with the clerk. No person signing a petition for annexation may withdraw his signature from the petition after it has been filed with the clerk. (c) The clerk shall refer the petition to the governing body which shall then, without undue delay, take appropriate steps to comply with W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-404 and 15-1-405 and determine if the petition is in compliance with subsection (a) of this section. (d) If the petition is not in minimum compliance, the governing body of the city or town desiring to be annexed shall be notified that no further action will be taken on the petition until compliance is made. (e) As an alternative to the circulation of the petition as provided by subsection (a) of this section the town to be annexed may hold a special election on the question in accordance with W.S. 22-23-801 through 22-23-809.

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15-1-418. Annexing contiguous cities or towns; annexation ordinance; filing.

(a) If after the hearing, the governing body of the annexing city or town finds that the conditions and procedures required by W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-404 and 15-1-405 have been met and the terms and conditions in the written petition exist, it may by ordinance annex the city or town. (b) A certified copy of the annexation ordinance including a legal description of the area and the map prepared pursuant to W.S. 15-1-402(c)(i) and in accordance with W.S. 33-29-801 shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the action has taken place.

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15-1-419. Annexing contiguous cities or towns; effective dates; appeals.

(a) The annexation of any city or town is effective upon the publication date of the annexing city or town's annexation ordinance, unless a different date is specified in the ordinance. Thereafter the city or town to which the annexation is made shall pass ordinances, not inconsistent with law, as will carry into effect the terms and conditions of the annexation. For purposes of taxation, the annexation does not become effective until January 1 next following the effective date of the ordinance, unless an appeal is filed and perfected, in which case the effective date is January 1 next following the court's final decision. (b) Appeals to the district court and limitations thereon are governed by W.S. 15-1-409 except that any registered and qualified elector as of the date of adoption of the ordinance shall also be able to appeal to the district court.

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15-1-420. Annexing contiguous cities or towns; how

governed; extension of laws, rights and utilities; dissolution of annexed city or town; disposition of assets and liabilities. (a) After the effective date of annexation, the city or town annexed shall be governed as part of the city or town to which it is annexed. The territory and inhabitants of the city or town annexed are subject to all the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city or town to which annexed and are entitled to all the rights, privileges and franchise services afforded the inhabitants thereof including fire protection, sanitary facilities and utility service. If the inhabitants of the annexing city or town are furnished any utility service by the annexing city or town or under franchise, the annexed area may receive the same service. (b) The annexed city's or town's municipal corporate assets including money, real and personal property, and rights, titles and interests of any nature, upon the effective date of annexation, without further conveyance, are the assets of the annexing city or town. The annexed city or town, without further action, shall be dissolved and the annexation ordinance shall so provide. The annexing city or town shall make provision for meeting all liabilities of the annexed city or town through assumption or by other lawful means. No such assumption or other action taken under this act shall materially impair existing obligations of contract of either the annexing or annexed city or town. Liabilities to be assumed by the annexing city or town shall include all revenue bonds and other special obligations which by their terms are not payable from ad valorem taxes. The revenue bonds and special obligations shall not become general obligations of the annexing city or town. (c) The annexing city or town in the annexation ordinance shall allocate equitably the debts of the annexed and annexing city or town. The equitable allocation shall be according to benefits received by the annexed and annexing city or town from additional assets being brought into the combined city or town. (d) Any such bonded indebtedness may be refunded by the annexing city or town under the laws of Wyoming existing at the time of this refunding.

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15-1-421. Municipal de-annexation.

(a) Any landowner within a city or town may petition the governing body of the city or town to have his land or a portion of it de-annexed and the boundaries of the city or town redrawn so their land is outside the city or town boundaries. The landowner shall file the petition with the clerk of the affected city or town and shall also provide a copy of the petition to the county commissioners of the affected county. The county commissioners shall, within sixty (60) days, prepare a report on the impact of the de-annexation. The affected city or town may not take any action on the petition for de-annexation until after the sixty (60) day period. The commissioners may establish rules and regulations for the area to be de-annexed which are consistent with county land use plans and zoning ordinances. (b) The petitioner shall be responsible for publishing a public notice of the petition in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected municipality no more than ten (10) days after filing the petition with the municipal clerk. The notice shall also include a map showing identifiable landmarks and boundaries. (c) The governing body of the city or town may by ordinance provide for this de-annexation and redrawing of boundaries provided that: (i) The owners of all the land to be de-annexed either sign the petition for de-annexation or consent to the de-annexation within one hundred twenty (120) days after the final passage of the de-annexation ordinance and before its effective date. The passage of the ordinance shall serve as the consent of the city or town for any land owned by the city or town within the area to be de-annexed; (ii) The ordinance is adopted within one hundred twenty (120) days after the receipt of the de-annexation petition and within one hundred eighty (180) days after the landowner's signature of the petition, unless a further consent of all the landowners is obtained before the effective date of the ordinance; and (iii) If the de-annexation causes land within the city or town boundaries to no longer be contiguous with the rest of the city or town, the de-annexation ordinance may be adopted only with the consent of all the owners of the land to be isolated by the de-annexation. (d) If the city or town owns any rights-of-way, easements, streets or other property or improvements within the area to be de-annexed it may: (i) Vacate or abandon them; (ii) Transfer them to the county government with the consent of the county commissioners; (iii) Agree to transfer them to another city or town upon completion of the annexation of all or part of the de-annexed land to that other city or town; (iv) Retain ownership of them. (e) No de-annexation shall create an area which is situated entirely within the municipality but is not a part of the municipality. (f) The landowner petitioning to have land de-annexed and his successors and assigns shall remain liable for any assessments incurred or levied while the land was within the city or town boundaries and for all mill levies necessary to repay any indebtedness that was outstanding at any time the property was within the city or town boundaries. Neither the de-annexation nor subsequent annexation to or incorporation as another city shall increase or decrease these liabilities.

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15-1-422. Prohibited acts.

The granting of an exception to the area wide waste treatment management plan by any city or town to any person may not be conditioned upon any agreement by that person to annexation under this article.

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15-1-423. Municipal growth management agreements.

(a) Following a public hearing which may be held jointly between the affected cities or towns, any city or town may mutually agree with one (1) or more cities or towns defining the future geographical growth and expansion areas for each respective city or town. Any agreement under this section shall be reduced to writing and approved by the governing body of each city or town which is a party to the agreement. No agreement under this section shall be amended, terminated or voided by any party thereto after its execution except by the mutual written agreement of the parties to the agreement. (b) Any agreement entered into by and between any cities or towns under this section shall provide that the parties to the agreement shall not annex real property located in any other party's defined growth and expansion area unless the nonannexing city or town's governing body consents, in writing, to any such annexation. (c) Any agreement entered into by and between any cities or towns defining their respective future geographical growth and expansion areas prior to July 1, 2007 is hereby ratified and approved and may only be amended, terminated or voided by the mutual written agreement of the governing bodies of the parties thereto. (d) Nothing in this section shall supercede other requirements for annexation under this article.

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15-1-501. Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this article: (i) "Commission" means the planning commission authorized by W.S. 15-1-502; (ii) "Street" includes streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, parkways, roads, lanes, walks, alleys, viaducts, subways, tunnels, bridges, public easements and rights-of-way and other ways; (iii) "Subdivision" means the division of a tract or parcel of land into three (3) or more parts for immediate or future sale or building development.

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15-1-502. Commission authorized; organization and procedure; compensation; staff; consultants; expenditures.

Each city and town may have a planning commission. The number and terms of the members and any other details relating to its organization and procedure shall be determined by the governing body. The members shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body and shall serve without compensation, except for reasonable expenses. The commission may appoint employees and staff necessary for its work and may contract with city planners and other consultants, including any appropriate agencies or departments of the state of Wyoming, for any service it requires. Commission expenditures shall not exceed the amount of funds appropriated by the governing body or obtained through gifts or otherwise.

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15-1-503. Master plan; adoption; concurrent action; contents; amendment.

(a) The commission, after holding public hearings, shall adopt and certify to the governing body a master plan for the physical development of the municipality. If the plan involves territory outside the city or town, action shall be taken with the concurrence of the board of county commissioners or county planning commission, or other municipal legislative body concerned. The master plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts and descriptive and explanatory matter shall show the: (i) Commission's recommendations for the development and may include the general location, character and extent of streets, bridges, viaducts, parks, waterways and waterfront developments, playgrounds, airports and other public ways, grounds, places and spaces; (ii) General location of public buildings and other public property; (iii) General location and extent of public utilities and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned, for water, light, power, heat, sanitation, transportation, communication and other purposes; (iv) Acceptance, widening, removal, extension, relocation, narrowing, vacation, abandonment, or change of use of any public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities or terminals; (v) Zoning plan for the regulation of the height, area, bulk, location and use of private and public structures and premises, and of population density; (vi) General location, character, layout and extent of community centers and neighborhood units; and (vii) General character, extent and layout of the replanning of blighted districts and slum areas. (b) The commission may amend, extend or add to the plan or carry any part or subject matter into greater detail.

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15-1-504. Master plan; preparatory surveys and studies; general purpose.

In preparing the master plan, the commission shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and probable future growth of the municipality and its environs. The plan shall be made for the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the municipality which will best promote the general welfare as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.

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15-1-505. Master plan; manner of adopting generally; certification thereof.

The commission may adopt the master plan in parts as the plan progresses or as a whole. Any part of the plan shall correspond generally with one (1) or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter thereof. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the commission. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter and other matters intended by the commission to form the whole or part of the plan. The action taken shall be recorded on the adopted plan or part thereof over the signature of the secretary of the commission. A copy of the plan or part thereof shall be certified to the governing body.

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15-1-506. Master plan; construction to conform, be approved; overruling disapproval; time limitation.

(a) If the governing body has adopted the master plan or any part thereof, no street, park or other public way, ground, place or space, public building or structure or public utility, whether publicly or privately owned, may be constructed until its location and extent conform to the plan and have been approved by the commission. If disapproved, the commission shall communicate its reasons to the governing body which by a vote of not less than a majority of its membership may overrule the disapproval. If overruled, the governing body or the appropriate board or officer may proceed. However, if the public way, ground, place, space, building, structure or utility is one which the governing body, or other body or official of the municipality may not authorize or finance, then the submission to the commission shall be by the board or official having that jurisdiction, and the commission's disapproval may be overruled by that board by a majority vote or by that official. The acceptance, widening, removal, extension, relocating, narrowing, vacation, abandonment, change of use, acquisition of land for, or sale or lease of any street or other public way, ground, place, property or structure may be similarly overruled. (b) If the commission fails to act within thirty (30) days after the proposal has been submitted to it, the proposal is deemed approved, unless a longer period is granted by the governing body or other submitting body, board or official.

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Title 15 Cities and Towns