(a) When the Council adopts an ordinance or resolution proposing an amendment to the Charter of the City, it shall by resolution designate a group of members who voted in support of or voiced support of the ordinance or resolution to prepare arguments for the proposed amendment, and a group of members who voted in opposition to or voiced opposition to the ordinance or resolution to prepare arguments against the proposed amendment. If no members voted in opposition to or voiced opposition to the ordinance or resolution, Council shall designate a group of persons known to oppose the amendment to prepare such arguments. All arguments shall be filed with the Clerk of Council no later than forty-five days before the date of election. No argument shall exceed two hundred words.
(b) The Clerk of Council shall disseminate information, which may include part or all of the official explanation and which shall include the arguments concerning the proposed amendment, by means of written publication, direct mail or such other means, or combination of means, as the Council may direct, in order to inform the voters as fully as possible concerning proposed amendments to the Charter of the City. The cost of such dissemination shall be paid by the Director of Finance out of funds appropriated for that purpose upon receipt of a voucher from the Clerk of Council. The voucher shall verify that the cost was incurred in fulfillment of the duty imposed by this section.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not be applied or construed so as to prevent or prohibit any member of Council or any other person from disseminating information and arguments regarding amendments to the Charter proposed by Council at the cost of the member of Council or any other person provided such information and arguments otherwise comply with law. (Ord. 91-12. Passed 4-15-91.)