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Session 1205, Minutes December 18, 1978 RECESS Page 14 Mayor Mooney called for a recess at 11:20 P.M. The Council reconvened at 11:40 P.M. The Personnel Report for the week ending December 16, 1978, was received and ordered filed. POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT The Police Department Report for the week of December 3, 1978 to December 91, 1978, was received and ordered filed. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT The Fire Department Report for the week of December 10, 1978 to December 16, 1978 was received and ordered filed. BIG BEND REFERENDUM Mayor Mooney said that Council had not yet received a report from the attorney who was retained by Council to advise it on the Big Bend matter. He suggested that a special meeting be held at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 3, 1979. Councilman Metcalfe said she had originally thought, if Council does not pass the Big Bend ordinance, it would be a good idea to have this issue on the ballot at the April 3rd election, along with the bond issue and the school board election, in order to save the expense of a special election. She now feels, for several reasons, it might be better to have a special election. A special election would draw the voters who are informed on this issue - she said all of the responsible thinking on this issue is now agreed on one point that the County is to have jurisdiction over this road, and the choice is between the 9 -foot lane plan and the 10 -foot lane plan. She also feels it might interfere with the bond issue campaign, and feels that the bond issue ought to be voted on in a separate election. It was ascertained that to have an election in February, it would be necessary to vote on the ordinance by December 26, which means Council would not have the benefit of the opinion of the special counsel, which Councilman Metcalfe said Council should have before they have to deal with the ordinance. Councilman Kelley said Council is deciding by default about when this issue will be on the ballot by putting off deciding on the initiative petition until January 3rd. Mr. Kelley said that under the Charter, the City Council does not have the authority to determine whether the proposed ordinance is an improper ordinance and therefore refuse to put it on the ballot, once the City Clerk has certified that there are a sufficient number of signatures on the petition. The Council must either pass the ordinance or schedule it for an election. Councilman Sabol read from the City Charter the section on initiative petitions, and commented that it does not say anything about hiring outside counsel, which