14-101. Change in classification of city from city of third class to city of second class; governor's proclamation; when change effective; division of city into wards; registration of voters.
(a) All cities now organized and acting as cities of the second class, by virtue of the authority of former acts, and all cities hereafter attaining a population of more than 2,000 and less than 15,000, shall be governed by the provisions of this act. Except as provided by this section, whenever the population of a city exceeds 2,000, the governing body of such city shall certify such fact to the governor. The governor shall declare, by public proclamation, such city subject to the provisions of this act. If the governing body of any city which has attained a population of more than 2,000 and less than 5,000 shall determine by resolution duly adopted that it would be more advantageous for such city to continue to operate as a city of the third class, such governing body shall not be required to so certify the population of such city to the governor and the laws relating to the cities of the third class shall continue to be applicable to such city. The governing body of such city, at the time of making the certification required by this section shall transmit to the governor an accurate description by metes and bounds of all the lands included within the limits of such city, and the additions thereto, if any.
(b) The change in classification of any city under the provisions of this section shall take effect on the date the proclamation of the governor is issued unless a later date is specified therein, in which case the change and classification shall take place on such later date. The governing body of any such city, holding office at the time of the proclamation, shall continue to be the governing body of such city and the members of such board shall hold their respective offices until the next city election in an odd-numbered year.
(c) Whenever the governor issues a proclamation as required by this section, it shall be the duty of the mayor of the city affected thereby to call a meeting of the city council. At such meeting, the governing body shall divide the city into wards.
Thereupon, except as is otherwise provided by law, the county election officer shall provide for registration of voters within 10 days.
(d) The governor or the governor's designee shall send a notice of the issuance of a proclamation by the governor pursuant to this section to the county clerk of the county in which such city is located. Such notice also shall include a statement that land within the corporate limits of such city is no longer located within the territory of any township. If such city is located in more than one county, such notice shall be sent to the county clerk of each county in which such city is located.
History: L. 1872, ch. 100, § 1; L. 1889, ch. 99, § 1; R.S. 1923, § 14-101; L. 1953, ch. 107, § 1; L. 1968, ch. 274, § 30; L. 2000, ch. 156, § 9; July 1.