The electors of this Municipality shall have the power to propose any ordinance or resolution, and to adopt or reject the same at the polls, such power being know as the initiative. An initiated ordinance or resolution shall be submitted to the Council by a petition signed by electors of this Municipality not less in number than ten percent (10%) of the electors voting at the last regular municipal election which shall in no case be less than thirty-five (35) signatures. Such petition shall designate not less than three (3) of the signers thereof as a committee authorized to take action as provided in this section.
Upon initial submission to Council, the Clerk of the Council shall within ten (10) days ascertain the sufficiency of such petition as to the count of signatures, that appropriate date is posted, and the designated committee of three (3) signers is so noted. Within the same ten (10) days the petition shall be delivered to the Lucas County Board of Elections to determine the final sufficiency of such petition and at the next meeting of Council, the Clerk of Council shall report, if found sufficient. Council shall take final action, either enacting, amending, or rejecting the proposed legislation within forty (40) days after initial submission to the Council.
If the Council fails to pass such proposed ordinance or resolution, or passes it in some form different from that set forth in the petition, the petitioners, through the Committee named in such petition, may, not later than the next regular meeting of the Council, request in writing that the legislation as set forth in this petition be submitted to a vote of the electors. Not later than the next regular meeting thereof following receipt of such request, the Council shall provide for submitting the petitioned ordinance or resolution to the electors at the next general election or regular municipal election occurring more than sixty (60) days after the filing or such request. If such petition is signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of such electors, or such number of electors so requested by petition, the Council shall provide for submitting such legislation to a vote of the electors at an election to be held at a date fixed by the Council but not later than eight (8) months after the initial submission of such petition.