In accordance with the procedures hereinafter provided, the
people reserve the power to propose by their own initiative and to
enact ordinances, independent of the Council; to approve or reject
any ordinance by referendum; and to recall an elective County Officer.
Initiative petitions may propose ordinances or the repeal of
ordinances on any subject except ordinances concerning appropriations
for the budgetary support of County Government and the payment of
principal and interest on the County's debts, or ordinances concerning
the borrowing of funds in anticipation of taxes, or directing the
issuance of bonds previously authorized at an election, or ordinances
establishing tax rates, or ordinances proposing amendments to the
County Zoning Order. Such petitions shall be signed by registered
voters equal in number to at least five percent (5%) of the total
cast for Governor in each of two thirds (2/3) of the Council Districts
at the last election at which a Governor was chosen. The petitioners
must file with the Director of Elections an intent to circulate an
initiative petition and shall have a maximum of twelve (12) months
to collect the required signatures after notice of that intent. Each
petition shall contain not more than one (1) subject which shall be
expressed clearly in the title and shall contain the full text of
the measure and an enacting clause which shall read as follows: "Be
it enacted by the people of St. Charles County." Such petitions shall
be filed not less than six (6) months before the next general election
with the Director of Elections who shall be the judge of their sufficiency.
The proposed ordinance shall be submitted to the voters at the next
general election held at least six (6) months after the petitions
are filed. An affirmative vote of a majority of those voting on the
proposition shall be sufficient for its adoption.
Petitions demanding the recall of any County elective officer
shall be signed by registered voters in the County or the Council
District, as the case may be, equal in number to at least twenty percent
(20%) of the total vote cast for Governor therein at the last election
at which a Governor was chosen. Such petitions shall be filed with
the Director of Elections who shall be the judge of their sufficiency.
The question shall be submitted to the voters in the County or Council
District, as the case may be, at the next primary or general election
held at least thirty (30) days after the petitions are filed. If the
petitions are filed more than ninety (90) days before any such election,
the question shall be submitted at a special election called by the
Director of Elections. If the majority of the votes cast on the question
at the election are in favor of the recall, the office shall become
vacant immediately upon certification of the results by the Director
of Elections. All recall proceedings shall at once be discontinued
upon the death, resignation or removal of the officer whose recall
is in question.