The powers of initiative and referendum are reserved to the people. Ordinances and other measures may be proposed by initiative petition and adopted by election, and ordinances and other measures adopted by the Council shall be subject to referendum, to the extent and manner now or hereafter provided by the general laws of Ohio, except as otherwise provided in this Charter.
Whoever seeks to propose an ordinance or measure by initiative petition or files a referendum petition against any ordinance or measure adopted by Council, shall, before circulating such petition, file a verified copy of the proposed ordinance or measure with the Director of Finance and Records. Initiative and referendum petitions shall be filed with the Director of Finance and Records, who shall certify such petitions within the time prescribed by the general laws of Ohio.