(A) The city or any chief petitioner may seek a declaratory judgment regarding any questions arising under this subchapter, as it may be from time to time amended, including, but not limited to, determining whether a measure is subject to referendum or limited referendum or whether a measure may be enacted by initiative. If a chief petitioner seeks a declaratory judgment, the city shall be served by personal, residence, or certified mail service upon the chief executive officer or City Clerk. If the city seeks a declaratory judgment, only the chief petitioner or chief petitioners shall be required to be served.
(B) Any action brought for declaratory judgment for purposes of determining whether a measure is subject to limited referendum or referendum, or whether a measure may be enacted by initiative, may be filed in the district court at any time after the filing of a referendum or initiative petition with the City Clerk for signature verification until 40 days from the date the City Council received notification from the verifying official that the necessary signatures have been obtained. If the city does not bring an action for declaratory judgment to determine whether the measure is subject to limited referendum or referendum, or whether the measure may be enacted by initiative, until after it has received such notification, it shall be required to proceed with the initiative or referendum election in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter. If the city does file such an action prior to receiving such notification, it shall not be required to proceed to hold such election until a final decision has been rendered in the action.
(C) Any action for a declaratory judgment shall be governed generally by Neb. RS 25-21,149 through 25-21,164, except that only the city and each chief petitioner shall be required to be made parties. The city, City Clerk, City Council, or any of the city's officers shall be entitled to rely on any order rendered by the court in any such proceeding. Any action brought for declaratory judgment pursuant to this section shall be given priority in scheduling hearings and in disposition as determined by the court. When an action is brought to determine whether the measure is subject to limited referendum or referendum, or whether a measure may be enacted by initiative, a decision shall be rendered by the court no later than five days prior to the election.
(D) The provisions of this section relating to declaratory judgments shall not be construed as limiting, but construed as supplemental and additional to other rights and remedies conferred by law.
(Neb. RS 18-2538) (Ord. 1862, passed 1-8-04)