On September 14, 2005, the NFL ballot initiative sponsors (Councilmembers Holden, Little and Streator) published the "Notice of Intent" and the "Ballot Title and Summary" in the Pasadena Star-News.  This was the first step in the signature gathering process. 

The deadline for the proponents to file the NFL Initiative petition was Tuesday, February 21, 2006, before the close of business at 5:30 p.m.    

Per the Pasadena City Clerk, for a special election, the initiative petition must contain at least 9,816 valid signatures (15% of registered voters at the time the Notice of Intention and Ballot Title and Summary were published on Sept. 14, 2005).     The registration number at that time was 65,440.     To place the measure on the June 2006 state primary ballot, which would be a special municipal election consolidated with the June 2006 ballot, would require the 15% (9,816) valid signatures, or any other special election date which may be called.  

To place an initiative measure on a regularly scheduled municipal election (next regular municipal election is March 6, 2007) requires 10% valid signatures.

The NFL Initiative sponsors, using paid signature gatherers (approximately $3.00 for each signature) submitted approximately 16,000 signatures to the City Clerk on the afternoon of February 21, 2006.  The City Clerk submitted the petitions to the County Registrar to verify the signatures to determine the number of valid signatures.   This process usually takes approximately 30 business days.

The County Registrar would have had to validate the signatures by March 10, 2006 in order for the NFL Initiative to qualify for the June 2006 election.

On April 4, 2006, the Pasadena City Clerk received the verified petitions for the NFL Ballot Initiative from the County Registrar.  The NFL proponents had submitted 16,919 signatures for verification by the County Registrar.  The City Clerk reported that The L.A. County Registrar of Voters had individually verified the petition signatures and voter registration of 10,129 signatures.  The City Clerk indicated that she had eliminated 64 signatures because some signature gatherers did not reside in Pasadena, did not sign the residency statement, etc.  Thus, 10,065 signatures were determined valid. 

The number of signatures needed to qualify the initiative for a special election is 9,816.  Accordingly, the Initiative has received sufficient signatures for the City Council to act on scheduling an election.  (Note:  the NFL proponents gathered only 249 more signatures needed to attain the 15% target for a special election.  Also, 40.5% of the signatures submitted were invalid.)

The City Clerk certified the signatures and presented the petitions to the City Council at their meeting on Monday April 10, 2006.  The City Council had several options based on State and local law: the Council may adopt the Initiative and avoid an election, they could set an election date no sooner than 88 days or they may request a report from City staff and other outside consultants that must be completed within 30-days and then determine an election date thereafter.  The NFL proponents had missed the deadline for a June election.

On April 10, 2006, the City Council requested a report from City Staff to be presented at the May 8, 2006 City Council meeting and requested that a resolution for a November 7, 2006 election be prepared for Council consideration.

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