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publish all ordinances by title only rather than by publishing the ordinance in full.137 This action tends to save the <br />town or city publishing expenses and is being utilized more and more frequently, especially considering the ease with <br />which municipalities are able to "publish" the text of ordinances at no expense on town and city websites. <br />Effective date. In general, no ordinance may take effect before 30 days after its final passage and publication.131 <br />However, if an ordinance calls for a special election, or is declared necessary for the immediate preservation of the <br />public health or safety and includes the reasons for the necessity in a separate section, it may take effect <br />immediately after adoption by an affirmative vote of three -fourths of the governing body.131 This latter type of <br />ordinance is often referred to as an "emergency" ordinance. <br />If an ordinance has been adopted pursuant to § 31-4-102(3) (in statutory cities) or § 31-4-302 (in statutory towns) <br />where the mayor has been granted veto power, subsequent ordinances only can take effect after compliance with <br />the provisions for the mayor's approval.140 <br />Finally, if a valid referendum petition is filed with the clerk within 30 days after publication of a nonemergency <br />ordinance, the ordinance's date of effect will be suspended immediately pending repeal by the governing body or a <br />vote by the electors of the municipality.141 <br />Required number of votes for ordinance passage. Except for emergency ordinances, and ordinances for the <br />appropriation of money and the award of contracts, all other ordinances only require the approval of a majority of a <br />quorum of the members of the governing body present and voting at valid meetings where a quorum is present. 142 <br />Emergency ordinances and ordinances that call for a special election require approval by three -fourths of all the <br />members elected to the governing body.143 Ordinances, resolutions, and orders for the appropriation of money or the <br />award of contracts require the concurrence of the majority of the total number of all board or council members.144 <br />In municipalities that have a mayoral veto power, any ordinance passed over the veto of the mayor must receive <br />approval of two-thirds of the members of the governing body before it becomes Iaw.148 <br />ADOPTION OF CODES BY REFERENCE <br />Basic requirements. In Colorado, municipalities may adopt existing published codes "by reference"141 (that is, <br />without full publication) by adopting an ordinance. Codes that are eligible for adoption by reference are "any <br />published compilation of statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations or standards adopted by the federal government or <br />the State of Colorado, by an agency of either of them, or by any municipality or other political subdivision in this <br />state.11147 In most instances, the code to be adopted may be altered by the municipality in the process by adding or <br />excluding specific provisions to meet the municipality's particular needs. However, all changes and additions to any <br />code to be adopted must be published in the same manner that is required for ordinances, except that clerical, <br />organizational, and other changes to the proposed code that are not substantive in nature do not have to be <br />published.141 Further, all penalty provisions must be set forth in full and published in the adopting ordinance.141 <br />One common arena in which this procedure commonly is used is in connection with the adoption of detailed and <br />common regulatory codes such as building codes, fire codes, electrical and plumbing codes, and traffic codes. <br />Another common use of this procedure is in the adoption of the codification of a municipality's ordinances.110 <br />137 C.R.S. § 31-16-105. <br />138 C.R.S. § 31-16-105. <br />139 C.R.S. § 31-11-105(1). <br />140 C.R.S. § 31-16-104. <br />141 C.R.S. § 31-11-105(3). <br />142 C.R.S. § 31-16-103. <br />143 C.R.S. § 31-11-105(1). <br />144 C.R.S. §§ 31-16-103, 108. <br />145 C.R.S. § 31-16-104. <br />146 See C.R.S. §§ 31-16-201 et seq. <br />147 C.R.S. § 31-16-201(2). <br />148 C.R.S. § 31-16-204. <br />149 C.R.S. § 31-16-204. <br />150 See C.R.S. § 31-16-201(2). <br />Heather Balser / City of Louisville <br />Order #4zzov <br />CQr�rLMM Xb&� UNICIPAL LEAGUE 17 <br />opyright by C <br />