Charter Commission Reviews Initiated Ordinance and Petition Process

Columbus City Council held its third Charter Review Commission meeting last week, continuing the discussion regarding updates to the document. Last convened as a commission in 2014, the group is tasked with reviewing the Columbus City Charter every ten years for potential changes and updates. Originally incorporated in 1914, the document provides a framework for the rights, powers and responsibilities of both elected officials and the general citizens of the City of Columbus.

One of the main topics of discussion focused on filing initial petitions. Senior legislative advisor John Oswalt of the city clerk’s office, presented the initiated ordinance and chapter amendment process for Columbus.

The process for citizens’ initiative petitions and how they are processed through the state are changing, along with charter amendments and ordinances and how to get them on the ballot. These updates are designed to both make the process more accountable to citizens, as well as mirror Ohio revised code.

Section 42 of the updated charter establishes guidelines for petitions, ordinances, charter amendments, recalls, and referenda. All petition templates are produced by the city clerk’s office.

The current process requirements are not much different from the updated process. Petitioners were required to designate a committee of three to five people to represent the petition, now it must be five registered voters of the city to be considered.

Petition form requirements include:

• May only contain one proposal, which shall not address multiple subject matters or law
• Requires notice of any payment being provided by petition circulators
• Forms should be uniform in font and color 
• Petition committee shall consist of five qualified registered voters of the city
• File a copy of the petition with the city clerk along with a statement declaring its intent

Once submitted, the city clerk would then forward the draft petition to the city attorney and city council, who would then determine if it meets legal standards. In the case of ordinances and amendments, the petition committee has one year to gather signatures before turning in a completed petition or partial petition to the city clerk.

Within 10 days of receiving a petition, the clerk would make copies to submit to the Franklin County Board of Elections. The board validates signatures while the city attorney determines legal sufficiency.

An ordinance or charter amendment on the ballot is not subject to the Mayor’s veto. If the initial petition with valid signatures qualifies for the ballot, the clerk shall read a summary of the report into the record. Within 14 days, council would determine the sufficiency of the petition by ordinance. 

Petitions can be included on the ballot during both primary and general elections. Council summarizes it for the ballot and if the proposed ordinance receives a majority of the vote, it becomes a city ordinance.

Click here to watch the Charter Review Commission meeting.