# INITIATED ORDINANCE

Part of Charter of the City of Columbus.

# INITIATED ORDINANCE

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# Sec. 43. - Ordinance initiated by petition.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-the-power-to-initiat"> The power to initiate an ordinance by petition is hereby reserved to the people of the city of Columbus. Any proposed ordinance may be submitted to the council by a petition signed by registered electors of the city equal to not less than five per cent of the total vote cast at the last preceding regular municipal election for mayor. Any such proposed ordinance shall comply, in all respects, with the requirements of this charter and applicable rules of council regarding ordinances.

 (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 § 43 to read as set out herein. Former § 43 was titled \[duties of city clerk.\]

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# Sec. 43-1. - Council action on initiated ordinances.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-upon-receipt-of-the-"> Upon receipt of the report regarding the validation of signatures, the city clerk shall read a summary of the same into the record. Within fourteen days thereafter, the council shall determine the sufficiency of the petition by ordinance. Should the council find such petition sufficient, it shall vote within thirty days to either adopt the proposed ordinance without alteration, or by ordinance forthwith order and provide for the submission of such proposed ordinance in its original form to a vote of the electors of the city.

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

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# Sec. 43-2. - Placement of issue on the ballot.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-the-aforesaid-ordina"> The aforesaid ordinance shall require that such proposed ordinance be submitted at the next regular municipal election if one shall occur not less than sixty nor more than one-hundred-twenty days after its passage. If no such election will be held within the period herein provided, the council shall, at its sole discretion, order and provide for the submission of such proposed ordinance to a vote of the electors of the city at either a special election within such period, or at the next regular municipal election.

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

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# Sec. 43-3. - Ballot language, initiated ordinance.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-in-any-ordinance-pla"> In any ordinance placing a proposed ordinance 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 ordinance; and such arguments shall properly represent the substance, purpose and effect of the proposal. The ballot committee may prepare and present to city council suggested arguments for such proposal, which shall properly identify the substance, purpose and effect of the proposal. The arguments, so prescribed by council, shall be affixed to a copy of the proposal ordinance and shall be placed in each voting location of the city.

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

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# Sec. 43-4. - Effect of electoral vote on proposed ordinance.

<div class="chunk-content" id="bkmrk-if-such-proposed-ord"> If such proposed ordinance be approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall become an ordinance of the city at the time fixed therein, or upon the completion of the official canvass of the election, whichever is later.

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

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