VIVA HERMOSA

Referendum is the submission of a law (or ordinance) directly to a vote of the people.

If the citizens of Hermosa disagree with an ordinance that the city council has just passed, they can stop that ordinance from going into effect, by gathering 1300 (approx.) petition signatures within 30 days of the council's action.  Presented with a sufficient petition, the council must then either repeal the ordinance, or submit it to the voters at the next regular municipal election, or at a special election.

Referendum is governed by the Elections Code of the State of California.  The Code specifies the title that goes at the top of the referendum petition form as well as the next sentence ( "The undersigned hereby request..." ), and it says that the form must contain the full text of the ordinance that is the subject of the referendum.