If the parties are unable to resolve all of the issues within the twelve (12) day period described in Section 15-9, the City shall cause the unresolved recommendations of the fact finder and the corresponding final offer of the rejecting party to be referred to the vote of the people at the regular municipal election or at a special election held in coordination with the statewide general election; provided that such election shall take place in the year in which such impasse occurs. The electorate shall vote for one (1) position, which shall be presented to the voters in the alternative. If both parties reject the recommendation of the fact finder, the ballot shall contain the respective unresolved final offers of the parties. The proposal receiving approval by a majority vote of the registered electors voting on the proposal(s) shall be deemed approved and be binding upon both parties. The party or parties rejecting the recommendations of the fact finder shall pay, or share as the case may be, the cost of the special election. In the event that issues unrelated to the proposals contemplated by this Article are also to be decided upon in the same special election, then the employee organization shall pay only its proportionate share of the election expenses, if any. Such fees shall be placed into an escrow fund account at the time when the "Notice of Call of Election" is published in the designated newspaper of general circulation.

The time limits for action, other than the time for notice and commencement of negotiations in Section 15-7 and the time for conducting the special election in Section 15-10, may be waived by mutual consent of the parties so long as any such extension does not violate any applicable election law.

The provisions of C.R.S. § 31-10-108, requiring at least ninety (90) days between a special election and a regular municipal election are hereby superseded to authorize the holding of the special election provided for by this Section whenever the City Council so authorizes. (Ord. No. 78-152, § 1, 11-7-1978; Ord. No. 87-202, § 58, 11-3-1987; Ord. No. 89-85, § 1, 11-7-1989; Ord. No. 91-47, § 1, 11-13-1991; Ord. No. 2005-32, § 2, 11-1-2005)