Explanation
This ordinance provides for the submission to the electors of the city of Columbus the question of amending the Charter of the City of Columbus, as relates to the initiative process. These amendments are based on the recommendations of the 2022 Columbus Charter Review Commission.
On July 6, 2022, the Charter Review Commission, appointed by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Council President Shannon Hardin, adopted five (5) comprehensive recommendations. A report summarizing those recommendations was submitted to Council on July 9, 2022 and is attached to this ordinance.
Based on council's consideration of the commission's recommendations, council proposes a ballot question regarding the initiative process. Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1, Initiative Process, addresses the following:
· Ban on initiatives that create a monopoly, oligopoly, or cartel; or otherwise confer a special privilege that is not available to similarly situated persons or nonpublic entities
· Ban on initiatives that authorize the City to become a stockholder in any joint stock company, corporation, or association; or interact with such in violation of Article VIII, Sec. 6 of the Ohio Constitution
· Should initiative petitions that violate either of these bans be found legally sufficient by city council, council would be required to pass ordinances to place two issues on the ballot: the first asks voters if the committee should be allowed to initiate the ordinance or charter amendment in violation of the Charter; the second would be the initiative ordinance or charter amendment itself
· Requires that any initiative petition submitted in violation of either ban include the names and addresses of all who would stand to gain commercial benefit from the initiative, and an estimate of how much public money they would likely receive in the three years following passage
· Lengthens the period that a petition committee may gather signatures from one (1) year to two (2) years
· P...
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