A.
A petition for initiative or referendum will be filed with the municipal clerk. The assembly may direct the municipal attorney to assist in the wording of the petition. After the application has been filed and within 10 working days, the municipal clerk with the assistance and legal advice of the municipal attorney shall certify the application or notify the initiative sponsors/committee of the grounds for denial.
B.
Contents of petition. A petition for an initiative or referendum shall:
1.
Embrace only a single comprehensive subject; and
2.
Set out fully the ordinance or resolution sought by the petition; and
3.
State upon the petition, when circulated, the date of first circulation of the petition, the name of the petitioner and where he/she can be reached; and
4.
Contain the statements, when circulated, that the signatures on the petition must be secured within 90 days from the date of the first circulation and that all signators are qualified voters in the municipality; and
5.
Have the required number of signatures as set out in the Charter, spaces for each signature, the printed name of each signer, the date each signature is affixed, the residence and mailing addresses, and one of the following identifiers: Voter ID number, Social Security number, or birth date of each signer; and
6.
A statement, with space for the sponsor’s sworn signature and date of signing, that the sponsor personally circulated the petition, that all signatures were affixed in the presence of the sponsor, and that the sponsor believes the signatures are those of the persons whose names they purport to be; and
7.
Signers must be qualified voters in the municipality; and
8.
Space for indicating the total number of signatures on the petition.
The municipal clerk shall notify the contact person(s) by phone and/or in writing when the petitions are available for circulation. The contact person(s) is responsible for notifying sponsors. Copies of the petition shall be provided by the municipal clerk to each preregistered sponsor who appears in the municipal clerk’s office and requests a petition.
C.
Required signatures.
1.
The necessary signatures on a petition shall be secured within 90 days from the date of the first circulation of the petition. The petition shall be signed in ink or indelible pencil.
2.
Illegible signatures, unless accompanied by a legible printed name, may be rejected by the municipal clerk.
3.
A petition signer may withdraw their signature upon written application to the clerk within seven days after the petition has been initially filed with the clerk.
D.
Sufficiency of petition.
1.
Within 10 working days from the filing date, the municipal clerk shall certify on the petition whether or not it is sufficient.
2.
If the petition is deemed insufficient for any reason other than lack of required number of signatures, it may not be amended or resubmitted sooner than one year. Ten additional days will be allowed to obtain sufficient signatures.
3.
Within 10 working days after supplementary filing the clerk shall recertify the petition. If it is still insufficient, the petition is rejected and filed as a public record.
E.
Implementation of initiative or referendum.
1.
If a majority of those voting favor the proposal, it becomes effective when the election results are officially certified by the clerk and approved by the assembly.
2.
The assembly may, at any time not less than 45 or more than 90 days prior to the date of election, adopt an ordinance or resolution to implement the petition. In that event an election shall not be held.
(S.G.C. 2.40.040; Ord. 83-557 § 4, 1983; Ord. 84-588 § 4(A), 1984; Ord. 06-28 § 4, 2006)