(a) Any initiative or referendum petition authorized by this Article may be presented in separate parts. Each part of any initiative petition shall contain a full and correct copy of the title and text of the proposed ordinance or other measure, and each part of any referendum petition shall contain the number and a full and correct copy of the title of the ordinance or other measure sought to be referred, but need not contain the full text of such ordinance or other measure.
(b) Each signer of a petition shall be a registered elector of the Municipality and shall sign his/her name in ink or indelible pencil and shall place on the petition his/her name and place of residence by street and number. Each part of any such petition shall contain the notarized affidavit of the person soliciting the signatures to the same, wherein the solicitor shall swear under oath, as to the number of signers of such part of such petition; that to the best of the affiant's knowledge and belief each of the signatures contained on such part is the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be; that he/she believes such persons are registered electors of the City; and that they signed such petition with knowledge of the contents thereof. Each part of such petition shall also have plainly indicated thereon the names and addresses of at least five (5) registered electors, who shall be officially regarded as filing the petition and shall constitute a committee of the petitioners for the purpose herein elsewhere named.
(c) All such petitions shall be filed with the Clerk and all parts of any such petition shall be assembled by the Clerk as one instrument.
(d) Within three (3) days after the filing of a petition the Clerk shall transmit the petition(s) to the Board of Elections to ascertain whether the same is signed by the required number of qualified electors. If the Board of Elections determines that the required number of qualified electors has signed the petition, then the Clerk shall certify such to the Council as pursuant to Section 2 above.
(e) The sufficiency of the number of signers to any initiative or referendum petition authorized by this Article, shall be determined on the basis of the number of registered voters in the City at the last general election held therein.
(f) The filing of an initiative petition with the Council within the time herein elsewhere provided shall be computed from the date of the attaching of the final certificate of the Clerk to such petition.
(g) Whenever it becomes the duty of the Council to call an election by reason of the filing of an initiative or referendum petition or under the terms and provisions of Section 2 of this Article, the Council shall call an election for the submission of such question, at the next regular primary or general election occurring not less than thirty (30) days thereafter. If circumstances so require, the Council, by an affirmative vote of at least five (5) Council Members, may provide for calling a special election not less than thirty (30) days hereafter. In either event, the Council shall certify its action to the Board of Elections of Lucas County, Ohio.
(Amended 11-7-06)
(Amended 11-7-06)