78.700.  Optional city manager form of government — procedure to adopt, election, ballot form. — As an alternative to the city manager form of government described in sections 78.430 to 78.640, any city of the third class, or any city with a population entitling it to become a city of the third class, may become organized under the optional city manager form of government as provided in sections 78.700 to 78.720.  Upon petition of voters residing in the city equal in number to twenty-five percent of the votes cast within the city for all candidates for governor in the last preceding election, the mayor shall by proclamation submit the question of organizing under sections 78.700 to 78.720.  The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:

Shall the city of ______ organize under sections 78.700 to 78.720, providing for the optional city manager form of government?