Jacksonville
Population as of the July 2011 census update: 827,908.[5] Jacksonville is a chartered consolidated city-county.
Jacksonville has a different process for charter amendment from the process set by the state. The petition must be signed by qualified voters of Duval County equal in number to at least 5% of the total number of registered voters in the city at the time of the last preceding general consolidated government election. The petition must be filed with the Supervisor of Elections for validation no later than 180 days prior to the election date requested by the petitioners' committee. The Form of the petition is detailed in the Jacksonville Charter, Sec. 18.05. The petitioning process shall be commenced by any 5 registered voters who shall file with the supervisor of elections an affidavit stating that they will constitute the "petitioners' committee." The Petitioner's Committee shall simultaneously file proof of the establishment of a political committee as required by section 106.03 of the Florida Statutes. The completed petition is filed with supervisor of elections. The approval process is direct and, unless otherwise scheduled by the Council, the referendum shall be held as a part of and at the same time as the next consolidated government, school board, state, or federal election in which all qualified voters of Duval County are entitled to participate. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election.
The Jacksonville charter does not authorize binding ordinance initiative, but does permit the same process above to be used for a non-binding "straw poll" ballot vote on any matter of public interest. (Jacksonville Charter, Sec. 18.05)[6]
Miami
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 408,750.[5] Miami is a charter city.
Miami has its own initiative process for ordinances. Signatures from 10% of the electors of the city registered at the last general municipal election are required for the petition. Any 5 registered voters may commence the initiative proceedings by filing with the city clerk an affidavit stating they will constitute the committee of the petition, along with other required content. Registration as a political committee may be required under Florida Statute 106.03. The requirements for circulators and the circulator affidavit form are found in the Miami Charter, Section 5. The process for approval is indirect and the commission has 30 days to pass or submit the proposed ordinance at the next election occurring not fewer than 30 days after. If no election is to be held within 6 months from such date, the city commission shall call a special election to be held not fewer than 30 nor more than 120 days later. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election. (Miami Charter, Sec. 5)[7]
Tampa
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 346,037.[5] Tampa is a charter city.
Tampa has its own initiative process for ordinances. Petitions are not allowed to extend to the budget or capital improvement program or any emergency ordinance, or ordinance relating to appropriation of money, levy of taxes or salaries of city officers or employees. 10% of the electors of the city qualified to vote at the last general municipal election are required to sign the petition. The form and content of the petition shall be as provided for under Florida Statutes Ch. 100.361. The process for approval is indirect and the council may adopt or submit the proposed ordinance at a city election. (Tampa Charter Sec. 10.07, 10.08)[8]
St. Petersburg
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 244,997.[5] St. Petersburg is a charter city.
St. Petersburg has its own initiative process for ordinances. Petitions are not allowed to extend to the budget or any ordinance relating to appropriation of money, levy of taxes or salaries of City officials or employees. 10% of the total number of qualified voters registered to vote at the last general City election are required to sign the petition. Any 5 qualified voters may commence initiative proceedings by filing with the City Clerk an affidavit stating they will constitute the petitioner's committee along with the other required content. Promptly after the affidavit of the petitioner's committee is filed, the City Clerk may, at the committee's request, issues the appropriate petition blanks to the petitioner's committee at the committee's expense. Requirements regarding the petitions form, content, and the circulator affidavit are found in the St. Petersburg Charter, Sec. 7.05. The process for approval is indirect and the council may adopt or submit the proposed ordinance at a general or special election to be held not less than 30 or more than 90 days later. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election. (St. Petersburg Charter, Art. VII)[9]
Orlando
Population as of the July 2011 census update: 243,195.[5] Orlando is a charter city.
Orlando has its own initiative process for ordinances. 15% of the total number of qualified registered voters of the City of Orlando must sign the petition. The process for approval is indirect and within two weeks of the filing of the petition the Council may pass the ordinance, or shall call a special election to be held within 90 days. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election. (Orlando Charter, Chap. 2, Sec. 14)[10]
Hialeah
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 229,969.[5] Hialeah is a charter city.
Hialeah has its own initiative process for ordinances. Petitions are not empowered to propose ordinances that extend to providing an annual budget or capital program, appropriating money, levying taxes or setting salaries of city officers or employees.
Signatures are required from 10% of the total number of electors registered to vote at the last regular city election. Any 10 electors may commence initiative proceedings by filing with the city clerk an affidavit stating that they will constitute the petitioners' committee, along with other required content. Prior to circulation, the city attorney shall approve the petitioners' proposed ordinance for legal sufficiency and form. Promptly after the petitioners' committee's affidavit is filed, the city clerk, at the committee's request, may issue the appropriate petition forms to the committee at the committee's expense. Regulations regarding the petitions form and content, and the circulator affidavit are found in Hialeah Charter Sec. 6.04. Petitions must be filed within 60 days of the commencement date of the initiative proceedings. The approval process is indirect and the council has 45 days to adopt or must submit at a general or special election not less than 30 or more than 60 days later. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election. (Hialeah Charter, Art. VI)[11]
Tallahassee
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 182,965.[5] Tallahassee is a charter city.
Tallahassee has no initiative and referendum process for ordinances. Its only initiative process is the state mandated charter amendment process (see above for details).
Fort Lauderdale
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 168,528.[5] Fort Lauderdale is a charter city.
Fort Lauderdale has its own initiative process for ordinances. There are two stages- in the first, a 1,000 member elector committee submits an initial petition including the election supervisor's certificate to the city commission. The committee may request the assistance of the city attorney to draft the ordinance. A commission hearing occurs to pass the proposed ordinance or agree on an altered proposal, and if this fails the petitioners may request an election. If the commission does not adopt the proposed ordinance and refuses the election request then signatures from 15% of the registered electors of the city are required to force adoption or election. For the second stage the clerk prepares the petition, and petitioners must file the complete petition within 60 days from receiving the receipt from the clerk. After filing the second petition it shall be the mandatory duty of the city commission at such meeting at which the clerk's certificate is presented to enact the ordinance in final form, or submit it at a general or special election not less than 30 or more than 60 days after. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election. (Fort Lauderdale Charter, Sec. 3.15 to 3.19)[12]
Port St. Lucie
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 166,149.[5] Port St. Lucie is a charter city.
Port St. Lucie has its own initiative process for ordinances. Petitions shall not extend to the budget or capital program or any ordinance relating to appropriation of money, levy of taxes or salaries of city officers or employees. Signatures are required from 15% of the total number of qualified voters registered to vote at the last regular city election. Any 5 qualified voters may commence initiative proceedings by filing with the city clerk an affidavit stating they will constitute the petitioners' committee, along with other required content. Promptly after the affidavit of the petitioners' committee is filed the clerk shall issue the appropriate petition blanks to the petitioner's committee. Regulations regarding the petition's form and content and the circulator affidavit are found in Port St. Lucie Charter, Sec. 7.03. The process for approval is indirect and the council may adopt the measure within 60 days or submit it at a general or special election not less than 30 days or more than 1 year later. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election. (Port St. Lucie Charter, Art. VII)[13]
Pembroke Pines
Population as of the July, 2011 census update: 157,594.[5] Pembroke Pines is a charter city.
Pembroke Pines has an initiative process for ordinances. Petitions shall not extend to the budget or capital program or any ordinance relating to appropriation of money, levy of taxes or salaries of City officers or employees. Signatures are required from 10% of the total number of qualified voters registered to vote at the last regular city election. Any 10 qualified voters may commence initiative proceedings by filing with the City Clerk or other official designated by the Commission an affidavit stating they will constitute the petitioners’ committee, along with other required content. Promptly after the affidavit of the petitioners’ committee is filed, the clerk or other official designated by the Commission may, at the committee’s request, issue the appropriate petition blanks to the petitioners’ committee at the committee’s expense. Regulations regarding the petition's form and content and the circulator affidavit are found in Pembroke Pines Charter, Sec. 6.03. The process for approval is indirect and the council may adopt the proposed ordinance within 60 days or submit it at a general or special election not less than 30 days or more than 60 days later. A simple majority determines the outcome of the election. (Pembroke Pines Charter, Art. VI)[14]
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