§ 10-2. Introduction of, required vote for, and effective date of franchise.

All ordinances granting, amending, renewing, or extending franchises for public utilities shall be read and passed by at least a majority vote of the members of the council, at two (2) separate regular meetings of the city council and no such ordinance shall take effect until thirty (30) days after its final passage; and pending such time, the full text of such ordinance shall be published once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Eagle Pass, and the expense of such publication shall be borne by the proponent of the franchise. Pending the time such ordinance may become effective, it is hereby made the duty of the governing authority of the city to order an election, if requested so to do, by written petition, signed by at least twenty per cent (20%) of the legally qualified voters, as shown by the appropriate voter rolls for the preceding year, at which election the qualified voters of said city shall vote for or against the proposed grant, as set forth in detail by the ordinance conferring the right and privilege upon the applicant therefor. Such election shall be ordered not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days from the date of filing said petition, and if, at said election, the majority of the votes cast shall be for the granting of such franchise or privilege, said ordinance, and the making of said proposed grant shall thereupon become effective, but if the majority of the votes cast at said election shall be against the granting of such franchise or privilege, such ordinance shall be ineffective and the making of such proposed grant be null and void. If, however, no petition be signed by at least twenty per cent (20%) of the voters within the twenty (20) days requesting an election, then upon the expiration of the twenty (20) days the ordinance granting the franchise shall become effective and the franchise duly granted.

(Ord. No. 02-32, § 1, 11-7-02; elect. of 2-1-03)