§ 7-03. Amending or Repealing the Charter.

A.

Proposals to amend or repeal this Charter may be made by a two-thirds ( 2/3 ) vote of the council membership or by petition signed by not less than twenty (20) percent of the total number of registered voters of the City. A petition shall contain the full text of the proposed amendment or amendments. The procedures and time limits for filing such a petition shall be the same as for an initiative ordinance as provided in Section 6-01(1), (2), and (3).

B.

Within thirty (30) days after a petition shall have been certified as sufficient and correct by the council, the council shall cause the amendment or amendments being proposed, and summaries thereof, to be published in the official journal of the City.

C.

Proposals to amend or repeal this Charter shall be submitted for ratification to the qualified electors of the City at an election already authorized for other purposes or at a special election called for the purpose of considering proposed Charter amendments. The results shall be determined by a majority vote of the electors voting on any particular proposal.

D.

Proposals by the council and by petition may be submitted to the voters at the same election and voters may, at their option, accept or reject any or all such proposals. Should conflicting proposals be approved at the same election, the one receiving the greater number of affirmative votes shall prevail to the extent of such conflict.

E.

Upon passage or rejection of a proposal by the voters, at least one (1) year shall lapse before the same issued can again be submitted to the voters.

F.

Except as provided in Section 8-07 (Severability) and Section 8-08 (Violation of Civil Rights Act), no proposal to amend or repeal this Charter shall be submitted during the first one (1) year of operations under this Charter. No amendment or repeal shall shorten the term for which any incumbent official was elected or reduce the salary of the office for that term.