§ 4.04. Filing, examination and certification of petitions.

Within thirty (30) days after an initiative or referendum petition is filed, the city secretary shall examine the petition and certify as to its sufficiency. The city secretary shall declare void any petition which does not have an affidavit attached thereto as required in Section 4.03 of this Article. In examining the petition, the city secretary shall write the letters "D.V." (declared void) in red ink opposite the names of signatories found not qualified. If the city secretary certifies the petition as insufficient, the city secretary shall notify the petitioner in writing. Such insufficient petition may be amended within forty-five (45) days from the date of original filing by submitting a supplementary petition upon additional papers signed and filed as provided for in the original petition. Within thirty (30) days after such amendment is filed, the city secretary shall examine the amended petition and certify as to its sufficiency. If the amended petition is then found to be insufficient, no further proceedings shall be had with regard to it. The city secretary shall report the status of any petition to the council at each regular council meeting.