If a council is in a hurry, how quickly can it complete these steps?

Depending on its regular meeting schedule, a council can finish the first five steps within two weeks or a month, and then publish the notice as soon as possible after the ordinance is adopted. To move this fast, a council would:

• First adopt the resolution of intent and call the public hearing. To expedite the process as much as possible, the council would also call a special meeting, to be held before the next regular meeting (even earlier on the same day) and schedule the hearing for the special meeting.
• Second, publish the notice of the public hearing; the hearing must be at least 10 days after the publication.
• Third, at the special meeting, hold the public hearing.
• Fourth, at the next regular meeting, which could be as quickly as later the same day, adopt the ordinance.
• Five, publish notice that the ordinance has been adopted.

Of course, if the council decides to call a referendum on the ordinance, the process is lengthened; or if the voters present petitions that require a referendum before the ordinance is approved, the process is also lengthened. Finally, compliance with the Voting Rights Act might also extend the process.

It should be noted that it is rare for a council to move this quickly, inasmuch as the council usually wants to give voters more time to consider and comment on the proposal