Proposed amendments to this charter may be submitted to the electors of the city by a two-thirds vote of the council and such submission shall be by ordinance. Proposed amendments to this charter shall be submitted by the council forthwith upon a petition signed by electors of the city equal to not less than ten percent of the total vote cast at the last preceding regular municipal election.

(Adopted 11-7-33; Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1748-2014, adopted July 21, 2014, amended the title of § 45 to read as set out herein. Former § 45 was titled [approval or rejection.]

Upon receipt of the report regarding the validation of signatures, the city clerk shall read a summary of the same into the record. The council shall forthwith determine the sufficiency of the petition. Should the council find such petition sufficient, it shall forthwith by ordinance provide for the submission of such proposed charter amendment to a vote of the electors of the city.

(Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

The aforesaid ordinance shall order and provide for the submission of such proposed charter amendment to the electors at the next regular municipal election if one shall occur not less than sixty nor more than one-hundred-twenty days after its passage; otherwise it shall provide for the submission of the question at a special election to be called and held within the time aforesaid.

(Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

The city clerk shall provide notice of any proposed charter amendment as provided for by general laws of the state, unless otherwise provided by this charter or ordinance of council.

(Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

In any ordinance placing a proposed charter amendment on the ballot, city council shall prescribe a brief summary of the same, which shall be accurate, shall not be misleading, and shall be without material omission or argument. The summary so prescribed shall be placed upon the ballot. City council may further prescribe arguments, of no more than two-hundred words each, printed side by side in such order as council deems appropriate, both in support of and in opposition to such proposed charter amendment; and such arguments shall properly represent the substance, purpose and effect of the proposal. The ballot committee may prepare and present to city council the arguments for such proposal, which shall properly identify the substance, purpose and effect of the proposal. The arguments, so prescribed by council, shall be placed in the notice to voters provided for herein; and shall be affixed to a copy of the proposal charter amendment and be placed in each voting location of the city.

(Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)

If such proposed amendment be approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall become a part of the charter at the time fixed in the proposed amendment, or upon the completion of the official canvass of the election, whichever is later.

(Ord. No. 1748-2014, 7-21-2014)