ORD NO 20-2025 CITY OF VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS
ORDINANCE NO. X -2025
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE CITY OF VAN BUREN,
ARKANSAS,AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED:
AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH
REFERENDUM PETITIONS MAY BE FILED;
PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO;
AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, the city of Van Buren has determined there must be an ordinance on record
regarding the period within which referendum petitions may be filed; and
WHEREAS, there was an extensive search of past records performed, and such an ordinance
could not be located,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY 09F VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS,THAT:
SECTION 1: That all referendum petitions under Amendment No. 7 to the Constitution of the
State of Arkansas must be filed with the Clerk within thirty (30) days after the
passage of any ordinance or resolution.
SECTION 2: That upon the filing of said referendum petition, the Mayor is hereby directed to
give notice by publication for one insertion in a newspaper having a general
circulation in the City of Van Buren, Arkansas (the "City"), and by posting in five
public places in the City of a time not less than five days after the publication of
such notice at which the Council will hear all persons who wish to be heard on the
question whether such petition is signed by the requisite number of petitioners. At
the time named, the Council shall meet and hear all who wish to be heard on the
question, and its decision shall be final unless suit is brought in the Circuit Court
of Crawford County, Arkansas within thirty days to review its action.
SECTION 3: That if the City Council finds that such petition is signed by the requisite number
of qualified petitioners, it shall order a special election to determine by a vote of
the qualified electors whether the ordinance or resolution shall stand or be revoked,
and fix a date which shall be not less than ten days after the date of the action of
the Council calling the election. The Mayor shall give notice of the call of such
election by publication in not less than one issue of a newspaper having a general
circulation in the City and by posting in five public places in the City not less than
five days prior to the date of the election. Such notice shall designate by its number,
caption and date of passage, the ordinance which has been referred to the people
for approval or rejection by their vote at such election. Otherwise, subject to the
provisions of Amendment No. 7 to the Constitution of Arkansas, and other
applicable laws, said election shall be conducted in the manner provided by law for
the conduct of a regular municipal election.
SECTION 4: That if any ordinance or resolution referred to the people is defeated at the polls,
the City Council shall make note of such fact and shall expunge the ordinance or
resolution from its files by erasing the same with red ink.
SECTION 5: That if any provision of this ordinance is held to be void, it shall not affect the
validity of the remainder of the ordinance, and the remainder shall stand.
SECTION 6: That all ordinances and resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed to the extent of such conflict.
SECTION 7: That the City Council hereby ascertains and declares that uncertainty exists with
respect to the time within which and the manner in which the right of referendum
may be exercised by the electors of the City and in regard to the time when
ordinances and resolutions of the City which affect the public welfare become
effective. It is, therefore, declared that an emergency exists and this Ordinance
being necessary for the preservation of the public peace,health and safety shall take
effect and be in force immediately from and after its passage.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City of Van uren, Arkansas, by its City Council, did
pass, approve, and adopt, by a vote of for and P against, the foregoing Ordinance at its
Regular Meeting held on the 24 h day of November 2 25.
G\erk Treds� �
°.. Jos . Hurst
City of Van Buren Mayor
ATTESTED: v� APPROVED AS TO FORM:
h�v�ry('ounty.
Shawnna eynolds Jacob Howell
City Clerk/Treasurer City Attorney