Ordinances providing for appropriations for current expenses of the City, or for public improvements petitioned for by the owners of a majority of the foot frontage of property benefitted and to be specially assessed for the cost thereof, or ordinances wherein an emergency is declared to exist, shall become effective immediately upon passage or at such later date as may be provided therein, and such ordinances shall not be subject to referendum. All other ordinances shall take effect thirty (30) days after passage. An emergency ordinance as referred to herein is one which must be passed and made effective at once or in less than thirty (30) days to meet a real and present emergency in the operation of the City government, or which is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, morals or welfare. Each emergency ordinance shall contain therein a separate section setting forth the reason for and nature of the emergency. No ordinance granting a franchise or fixing a rate to be charged by a public utility shall be passed as an emergency measure.
(Amended 11-6-01)