14-101.   Change in classification of city from cityof third class tocity 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,byvirtue of the authority of former acts, and all cities hereafter attaininga population of more than 2,000 and lessthan 15,000, shall be governed by the provisions ofthis act. Except as provided bythis section, whenever the population of a city exceeds 2,000, the governingbody of such city shall certify such fact to the governor.Thegovernor shall declare, by public proclamation, such city subject to theprovisions of this act. If thegoverning body of anycity which has attained a population of more than2,000 andless than 5,000 shall determine byresolution duly adoptedthat it would be more advantageous for such city to continue to operate asa city of the third class, such governing body shall not be required to socertify the population of such city to the governor and the laws relatingto the cities of the third class shall continue to be applicable to suchcity. The governing body of such city, at the time of making thecertificationrequired by this section shall transmit tothe governor anaccurate description by metes and bounds of all the lands included withinthe limits of such city, and the additions thereto, if any.

      (b)   The change in classification of any city under the provisions ofthissection shall take effect on the date the proclamation of the governor isissued unless a later date is specified therein, in which case the changeand classification shall take place on such later date. The governingbodyof any such city, holding office at the time of the proclamation, shallcontinue to be the governing body of such city and themembers of suchboard shall hold their respective offices until the next city election inan odd-numbered year.

      (c)   Whenever the governor issues aproclamation as required by this section, itshall be the duty of the mayor of the city affected thereby to call ameeting of the city council. Atsuch meeting, the governing body shall divide the city into wards.

      Thereupon, except as is otherwise provided by law, the county electionofficer shall provide for registration of voters within10 days.

      (d)   The governor or the governor's designee shall send a notice of theissuance of a proclamation by the governor pursuant to this section to thecounty clerk of the county in which such city is located. Such notice alsoshall include a statement that land within the corporate limits of such city isno longer located within the territory of any township. If such city is locatedin more than one county, such notice shall be sent to the county clerk of eachcounty 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.