An emergency ordinance as referred to above is one which must be passed and made effective at once to meet an emergency in the operation of the municipal government, or which is necessary to the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, morals or welfare. An emergency ordinance must contain therein a separate section setting forth the reason for 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.
(Amendment adopted by electorate (11-3-03); Amendment adopted by electorate (11-7-06))