If at any time within the period stated in Section 13
before any particular ordinance or resolution shall be in effect, a petition signed by fifteen percent of the total number of voters in the municipality be filed with the Clerk of the City Commission, requesting that any such ordinance be repealed or amended as stated in the petition, it shall not become operative until the steps indicated herein have been taken. Such petition shall have stated therein the names and addresses of at least five electors as a committee to represent the petitioners.
Referendum petitions need not contain the text of the ordinance or ordinances the repeal of which is sought; but shall contain the proposed amendment, if an amendment is demanded, and shall be subject in all other respects to the requirements for petitions submitting proposed ordinances to the City Commission. Ballots used in referendum elections shall conform in all respects to those provided for in Section 68 of this charter.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Signatures on a referendum petition obtained by one paid to collect them in violation of Section 76 of the charter are entitled to be counted to meet the requirements of Section 71 of the charter. City Commission of the City of Gallipolis v. State ex rel. Houck, 36 O. App. 253, 173 N.E. 36 (1930)).