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 ("charter"), as hereinafter described.
On May 4, 2016, members of Represent Columbus submitted a charter amendment petition with the city clerk, such amendment being titled, “To Amend the Charter to Create City Council Districts, Provide for Election of Council Members from Districts, and Change the Number of Council Members Elected At Large to Three.” The petition purported to contain the signatures of 39,308 electors of the city of Columbus. The pre-circulation copy of the petition, along with documents associated with the May 4, 2016 filing are attached to this ordinance.
Pursuant to Section 42-9 of the charter, the city clerk submitted the part-petitions to the Franklin County Board of Elections to validate the signatures and to the city attorney to advise on the legal sufficiency of the petition, based upon any applicable local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.
The city clerk has forwarded to this council the reports of the Franklin County Board of Elections and the city attorney. The city clerk has read a summary of the reports into the record.
Per Section 45-1 of the charter, this council must forthwith determine the sufficiency of the citizens’ charter amendment petition and, if it is found sufficient, forthwith by ordinance provide for the submission of the proposed charter amendment to a vote of the electors of the city. Council may not consider the subject matter of the petition in making this determination and council’s action via this ordinance does not constitute support for the proposed amendment.
This council finds that the aforementioned amendment to the charter, hereafter known as “Proposed Charter Amendment No. 1, City Council,” is sufficient pursuant to the requirements of the charter and applicable provisions of the Ohio Constitution and Ohio Revised Code. Having found...
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