The electors shall have the power to remove from office by a recall election any elected officer of the City. If an elected officer shall have served six months of the term, a form of petition demanding the removal may be filed with the Clerk of Council, who shall note thereon the name and address of the person filing the petition and the date of such filing, and deliver to such person a receipt therefor and attach a copy thereof to said petition. A petition in such form may be circulated in separate parts, but the separate parts shall be bound together and filed as one instrument. Each part shall contain the name and office of the person whose removal is sought and a statement in not more than 200 words of the grounds for the removal.
If the officer to be recalled was elected by the electors of the entire City, such petition shall be signed by at least that number of electors which equals 20 percent of the total number of electors voting at the last preceding regular municipal election.
If the officer to be recalled was elected by a single ward, such petition shall be signed by at least that number of electors in such ward equal to 20 percent of the number of electors in such ward voting at the last preceding regular municipal election.
Each individual circulating a petition shall be an elector of the City or the single ward, as appropriate.
Within ten days after the day on which such petition shall have been filed, the Clerk of Council shall determine whether or not it meets the requirements hereof. If the Clerk of Council shall find the petition insufficient, the Clerk shall promptly certify the particulars in which the petition is defective, deliver a copy of the certificate to the person who filed the petition, and make a record of such delivery. Such person shall be allowed a period of twenty days after the day on which such delivery was made in which to make the petition sufficient. If the Clerk of Council shall find the petition sufficient, the Clerk shall promptly so certify to the Council, and shall deliver a copy of such certificate to the officer whose removal is sought, and shall make a record of such delivery. If such officer shall not resign within seven days after the day on which such delivery was made, the Council shall thereupon fix a day for holding a recall election, not more than seventy-five days after the date of such delivery. If the officer to be recalled was elected by the electors of the entire City, such recall election shall be conducted in the entire City. If the officer to be recalled was elected by the electors of a single ward, such recall election shall be conducted in such single ward.
At such recall election this question shall be placed upon the ballot: "Shall (naming the officer) be allowed to continue as (naming the office)?", with the provision being made on the ballot for voting affirmatively or negatively on such question. If a majority of the votes cast at such election shall be voted affirmatively, such officer shall remain in office. If a majority of the votes cast shall be voted negatively, such officer shall be considered as removed, the office shall be declared vacant, and such vacancy shall be filled as provided in this Charter. The officer removed by such recall election shall not be eligible for appointment to the vacancy created thereby. (Amended 11-8-11)