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Group begins petition to preserve Eastside Park; city outlines signature and verification rules
Summary
A committee of five filed notice to circulate a petition to create an ordinance preserving Eastside Park; the city explained the signature thresholds, timing and verification process under the charter.
A committee of five has submitted notice of intent to circulate a petition proposing an ordinance to preserve Eastside Park, City Manager (unnamed staff) told the Morris City Council on Feb. 11. Under the city charter and applicable procedures, petitioners have 90 days to collect signatures equaling 10 percent of votes cast in the last city election in precincts 1, 2 and 3; if they fail they receive an additional 30 days.
City staff explained that only city residents may sign and that the signature total is calculated from city precinct election results (the manager stated the base number was 3,612). If petitioners reach the required number of signatures the proposed ordinance would be placed before the council, which would hold a public hearing and either approve it as presented, approve it with amendments, or send it to a special election.
The city manager also clarified that signatures are verified after submission and that the petition process is governed by the charter and related election rules. "A committee of 5 has submitted their intent to circulate a petition with the proposed ordinance to preserve Eastside Park," the manager said, adding the timetable and verification steps.
Council members asked whether township or other outside precinct votes would count; staff confirmed only the city precincts and city residents are included in the signature pool and verification.
The council did not take formal action on the petition itself; staff will verify signatures should the committee submit them within the required timeframe.
