(a) Within thirty (30) days after the enactment by Council of any ordinance or resolution which is subject to referendum under this Charter or under the laws of the State of Ohio, a petition signed by registered electors of the City of Westlake at least equal in number to six percent (6%) of the registered electors as shown by those registered and qualified to vote at the last regular municipal election, may be filed with the Clerk of Council, requesting the ordinance or resolution be repealed or submitted to a vote of the electors. When said petition is filed, the Clerk of Council shall first ascertain the sufficiency of the petition, and, if found sufficient, the Council shall thereupon, within thirty (30) days after the filing of such petition, reconsider such ordinance or resolution. If Council fails to repeal said ordinance or resolution within thirty (30) days, the Council shall submit such ordinance or resolution to a vote of the electors at the next countywide general or regular municipal election occurring more than ninety (90) days after the filing of such petition. If such petition is signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the registered electors of the City of Westlake as shown by those electors registered and qualified to vote at the last regular municipal election, the date of such election may be fixed therein, which may be a special election to be held any time more than ninety (90) days after the filing of such petition. (Amended 5-6-03.)
(b) When a referendum petition is filed with the Clerk of Council, the ordinance sought to be reconsidered shall be suspended from taking effect. Such suspension shall terminate when:
1. there is a final determination of insufficiency of the petition; or,
2. the petitioners' committee withdraws the petition; or,
3. Council repeals the ordinance; or,
4. the vote of the referendum has been certified.
(Amended 11-4-80.)