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2.04.050 Prospective Petition.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinances 177200, 191552, and 191973, effective January 1, 2025.)

  1. A. The chief petitioner(s) must file a prospective petition with the Auditor prior to circulating the petition.  The petition must be in a form required by the Auditor.
  2. B. State law with regard to the form of the petition applies except that the City will require the chief petitioners to state at a designated place on the form which election date the measure is to be placed on the ballot.
    1. 1. In the case of an initiative petition:
      1. a. The chief petitioners must specify the date at which the measure will be submitted to the voters.  The specified election date must be a general or primary election date within two years and four months of the time the prospective petition is filed with the Auditor. 
      2. b. Each signature sheet must contain the caption of the ballot title.
      3. c. A full and correct copy of the legislation to be initiated must also be submitted with the prospective petition.
    2. 2. In the case of a referendum petition:
      1. a. Each signature sheet must contain the title, and Charter section or ordinance number or section numbers proposed for referral and the date it was adopted by Council.
      2. b. A full and correct copy of the legislation to be referred must also be submitted with the prospective petition.
    3. 3. If one or more persons will be paid for obtaining signatures of eligible electors on the petition, each signature sheet must contain a notice stating: “Some Circulators For This Petition Are Being Paid.”
  3. C. The Auditor will provide each chief petitioner with a “Statement of Understanding” and with a copy or digitally accessible location of each of the forms and requirements listed on the Statement.  A Statement of Understanding signed by each chief petitioner is a prerequisite to acceptance of the petition.
  4. D. Prospective petitions which meet the requirements of Subsections 2.04.050 A., B., and C. will be accepted by the Auditor.  The Auditor will inscribe the date of filing upon the petition.  The Auditor will forward one copy to the City Attorney for the preparation of a ballot title not later than the sixth business day after the prospective petition is filed with the Auditor.

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