“I really don’t like legislation by referendum,” Soglin said, “but at this point, given the public safety issues and the cost ... it’s something I would consider.”

Police have seen calls for service in the Downtown spike around bar time on weekends, and Ald. Paul Skidmore, a member of the Public Safety Review Committee, said about one-fourth of police overtime is being used for problems Downtown.

Soglin said the “one simple question” on the ballot would be whether the city should issue more liquor licenses in the Downtown, and its result would be binding.

Under state law, it would take about 18,500 signatures — or 15 percent of the number of votes cast for governor in Madison in the last gubernatorial election — to force the City Council to adopt an ordinance, or to place a binding referendum on the ballot on whether to enact the ordinance. If the referendum were to pass, the ordinance would be enacted.

“The council could also set up a non-binding referendum and agree to abide by the results, but there is no legal way to make them keep their promise,” said city attorney Mike May said.