Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2007 - 244
Sponsor: Council Member
Date of Introduction: February 26, 2007
Committee(s) of Reference: R, A
Date of Analysis: March 2, 2007
Type of Action:
Bill Summary: The bill:
- Renames Section 18.05 to "Public Referendum Process."
- Increases from 5 to 8% the percentage of registered voters needed to have signed the referendum petition to amend the City Charter.
- Adds a provision for holding non-binding "straw ballots" with 8% of registered voters needed to have signing the petition. Further, the same straw ballot may not be placed on the ballot again within one year unless 10% of registered voters have signed the second petition.
- Establishes a Petitioners' Committee to be tasked with creating the petition, ballot title, and ballot summary so that they are in proper form.
- Establishes that the Office of General Counsel will determine the legal sufficiency of the proposed petition.
- Establishes that a "Financial Impact Estimate" statement be made a part of the straw ballot or charter amendment. The Council Auditor shall chair the committee developing the financial impact statement.
- Proposed charter amendments shall be ratified only if a minimum of 60% of the votes cast in the referendum election voted in favor of ratification.
- And clarifies other language throughout the section.
Background Information: The recent Cecil Field referendum petition drive brought to light ambiguities in the current City referendum process. The changes made in this bill are based on changes incorporated into the State's initiatives process.
Policy Impact Area: City & Charter referendums and straw ballots
Fiscal Impact: Undetermined
Analyst: Weiss