(Amended by Ordinance No. 177200, effective February 21, 2003.)
A. The chief petitioner(s) shall file a prospective petition with the Auditor prior to circulating the petition. The petition shall be in a form required by the Auditor.
B. State law with regard to the form of the petition shall apply except that the City shall provide on the form a place for the chief petitioners to state at which election date the measure is to be placed on the ballot.
1. In the case of an initiative petition:
a. The chief petitioners shall specify the date at which the measure shall be submitted to the voters. The specified election date shall be a regular election date within two years and four months of the time the prospective petition is filed with the Auditor.
b. Each signature sheet shall contain the caption of the ballot title.
c. A full and correct copy of the legislation to be initiated must also be submitted with the prospective petition.
2. In the case of a referendum petition:
a. Each signature sheet shall contain the title, and charter section or ordinance number or section numbers proposed for referral and the date it was adopted by Council.
b. A full and correct copy of the legislation to be referred must also be submitted with the prospective petition.
3. If one or more persons will be paid for obtaining signatures of electors on the petition, each signature sheet shall contain a notice stating: "Some Circulators For This Petition Are Being Paid."
C. The Auditor shall provide each chief petitioner with a "Statement of Understanding" and with a copy of each of the forms and requirements listed on the Statement. A Statement of Understanding signed by each chief petitioner shall be a prerequisite to acceptance of the petition.
D. Prospective petitions which meet the requirements of Sections 2.04.050 A., B., and C. shall be accepted by the Auditor. The Auditor shall inscribe the date of filing upon the petition. The Auditor shall forward two copies 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.