(a) Petition: A petition signed by qualified electors of the City, accompanied by the proposed legislation or measure in the form of a proposed ordinance and requesting that such ordinance be submitted to a vote of the people if not passed by the Council, shall be filed with the Clerk.

(b) Clerk’s Certificate: With ten (10) days after the filing of such petition the Clerk shall certify the number of votes cast at the last general municipal election and the number of valid signers of such petition, and shall present such certificate, petition and proposed ordinance to the Council.

(c) Action by Council Upon Petition — Fifteen Percent Petition: If such petition be signed by qualified electors in number equal to fifteen percent of the total number of votes cast at last preceding general municipal election, the Council, within ten (10) days after the receipt of the petition, except as otherwise provided in this charter, shall either pass such ordinance without alteration, or submit it to popular vote at a special election which must be held within forty-five (45) days after the date of the ordering of the election; provided, however, that if any other municipal election is to be held within sixty (60) days after the filing of the petition, the proposed ordinance shall be submitted without alteration to be voted upon at such election.

(d) Less than Fifteen Percent Petition: If such petition is signed by qualified electors in number at least equal to five percent and less than fifteen percent of the total number of votes cast at the last preceding general election, and the proposed ordinance is not passed by the Council without alteration before the printing of ballots, including absentee ballots, for the approaching regular municipal election, it shall be submitted to popular vote at such election; provided, however, that such petition must be filed at least forty-five days before the date fixed for such election.