California Code, Elections Code - ELEC § 9247

Article 1 (commencing with Section 9200) and this article do not apply to cities having a charter adopted under Section 3 of Article XI of the California Constitution, and having in their charters any provision for the direct initiation of ordinances by the voters; nor to proceedings had for the improvement of streets in or rights-of-way owned by cities, the opening or closing of streets, the changing of grades or the doing of other work, the cost of which, or any portion of the cost which is to be borne by special assessments upon real property.