Any member of the city council may be recalled and removed from office by the electors qualified to vote for a successor of the incumbent as provided in this chapter. The procedure to remove members of the city council is as follows:
(1) A petition demanding the recall of the city council member must be filed with the city secretary. The petition must:
(A) be signed by qualified voters entitled to vote for a successor to the member sought to be removed, equal in number to at least 15 percent of the number of voters who, on the date of the last preceding general municipal election, were entitled to vote for the place occupied by the member sought to be removed;
(B) contain a general statement of the grounds for which the removal is sought; and
(C) comply in form, content, and procedure with the provisions of Section 12, Chapter IV of this Charter.
(2) On the day that the petition is first circulated, notice must be given in writing to the city secretary by five registered voters of the city council district from which the member is sought to be removed, and the total signatures required must be secured and the petition filed within 60 days after the city secretary receives the notice.
(3) Within 30 days after the petition is filed, the city secretary shall examine the petition and, from the list of qualified voters, ascertain whether or not the petition is signed by the requisite number of qualified voters. If necessary, the city council shall allow the city secretary extra help, and, in the case of a petition to recall the mayor or multiple petitions to recall city council members, additional days to complete the examination. The city secretary shall attach to the petition a certificate showing the result of the examination. (Amend. of 6-12-73, Prop. No. 12; Amend. of 4-2-83, Prop. No. 2; Amend. of 5-1-93, Prop. No. 6)
If the city secretary finds the recall petition in order, the city secretary shall submit the petition to the city council. The city council shall then, as soon as practicable, call a recall election on the next available election date that is not less than 60 days after the certification of the recall petition, unless the next available election date is the general election in which case the election will be held on that date. The name of the city council member sought to be removed will automatically be placed on the ballot unless, before the filing deadline, the member resigns or declares an intention to not be a candidate on the ballot. All other candidates shall comply with the requirements for candidacy in a general election of the city. The election will be conducted in the same manner as set forth in this Charter for an election to fill a vacancy on the city council. The election will be only for the unexpired term of the questioned city council member. Failure of the person elected to take the oath of office within 10 days after the official canvass of the election will create a vacancy in the office. (Amend. of 4-2-83, Prop. No. 4; Amend of 5-1-93, Prop. No. 6)