No franchise to occupy any of the streets, alleys or public grounds of the City for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating a public utility shall be granted, and no such grant shall be renewed, extended or amended, except by ordinance. Every such proposed grant and every proposed renewal or extension of such grant provided by ordinance passed by the Council shall be subject to the referendum provisions of this Charter. No such proposed grant or proposed renewal or extension of such grant provided by ordinance passed by the Council shall be declared, considered or held to be an emergency measure.
No grant, or renewal thereof, to construct, maintain and operate a public utility in the streets and public grounds of the City shall be made by the Council to any individual, company or corporation in violation of any of the limitations contained in this Charter or in the laws of the State of Ohio.