Charter of the City of Stockton

ARTICLE IX
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM ELECTION CODE GOVERNS

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SECTION 900. Provisions

There is hereby reserved to the voters of the City the powers of the initiative and the referendum. The provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California, as they now exist or may hereafter be amended, governing the initiative and referendum in cities, shall apply to the use thereof in the City so far as they are not in conflict with the provisions of this Charter.

(Amended Election 10/14/47 effective 3/3/48; Amended Election 10/12/71 effective 12/6/71)

SECTION 901. Initiative Special Requirements

Signatures on initiative petitions shall be secured and the petition filed with the City Clerk within ninety (90) days from the first publication or posting of the notice of intention to circulate the petition.
(Amended Election 10/12/71 effective 12/6/71)

SECTION 902. Actions of City Council if Signatures at Least Ten Percent

If the initiative petition is signed by voters of the City equal in number to at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of voters of the City according to the last official report of registration by the County Clerk of the County of San Joaquin to the Secretary of State of California, the City Council shall either:

(a) Introduce the ordinance without alteration at the regular meeting at which it is presented and adopt the ordinance within fourteen (14) days after it is presented; or

(b) Immediately order a special election, to be held within the time set forth in the Elections Code of the State of California, at which the ordinance, without alteration, shall be submitted to the voters of the City.

(Amended Election 03/04/03 effective 04-02-03) (Amended Election 10/12/71 effective 12/6/71)

SECTION 903. Actions by City Council if Signatures at Least Five Percent

If the initiative petition is signed by voters of the City equal in number to at least five percent (5%) of the total number of voters of the City according to the last official report of registration by the County Clerk of the County of San Joaquin to the Secretary of State of the State of California, and the ordinance petitioned for is not required to be, or for any reason is not, submitted to the voters at a special election, and is not passed without change by the City Council, then the ordinance, without alteration, shall be submitted by the City Council to the voters at the next general municipal election occurring at least forty-five (45) days after the order of the City Council.

(Added Election 10/12/71 effective 12/6/71)

SECTION 904. Referendum: Special Requirements

Any ordinance or measure that the City Council or the voters of the City shall have the authority to enact, the City Council may of its own motion submit to the electors for adoption or rejection at a general or special municipal election, in the same manner and with the same force and effect as is provided in this Charter for ordinances or measures submitted on petition. At any special election called under the provisions of this Charter, there shall be no bar to the submission of other questions to a vote of the electors in addition to the ordinance or measures herein provided for, if said other questions are such as may be legally submitted at such election. If the provisions of two (2) or more measures approved or adopted at the same election conflict, then the measure receiving the highest affirmative vote shall control.

(Added Election 10/12/71 effective 12/6/71; amended Election 11/8/94 effective 5/22/95)

Historical Note:

Title of Article amended Election 10/12/71 effective 12/6/71. Prior to the Election of 11/8/94, this Article was numbered XXVII.