The electors shall have the power to propose any ordinance or resolution, except an ordinance appropriating money or authorizing the levy of taxes, and to adopt or reject the same at the polls, such power being known as the initiative. An initiated ordinance or resolution shall be submitted to Council by a petition signed by at least ten percent (10%) of the electors voting at the last regular Municipal election, provided, however, that an initiated ordinance or resolution proposing to amend, enlarge or change the zoning of any real property shall be submitted by a petition signed by at least thirty percent (30%) of the electors residing within the ward or wards in which the real property is located or in which abutting real property is located. When so submitted, the Clerk-Treasurer shall determine the sufficiency and, if sufficient, the Council shall take final action, either enacting, amending or rejecting the proposed ordinance, within forty (40) days after submission. If Council fails to pass such proposed ordinance or resolution, or passes it in some form different from that set forth in the petition therefor, the petitioners, through the committee named on such petition, may, by the next regular meeting of Council, request, in writing, that it be submitted to a vote of the electors. Thereupon, Council shall provide for submitting the petitioned ordinance or resolution to the electors at the next general or regular Municipal election occurring more than ninety (90) days after the filing of such petition; but if such petition is signed by at least fifty-one percent (51%) of such electors, the date of the election may be fixed therein, which may be a special election to be held at any time more than ninety (90) days after the filing of such petition.
(Amended 5-3-94)