If a plan for combining boards of park commissioners is proposed by agreement or petition, the participating or affected boards shall immediately submit the proposed plan to the governing bodies of the affected cities and, if applicable, to the board of county commissioners of any affected county. Those boards shall jointly submit the question of combination to the qualified electors of the affected cities and counties at a primary or general election as specified in the agreement or petition within two years of the initial submission of the agreement or petition, and shall cause the complete text, or a fair and accurate summary, of the plan to be published in the official newspapers of the affected cities and counties, not less than two weeks nor more than thirty days, before the date of the election. The boards of park commissioners may, prior to the election, hold public hearings and community forums and use other suitable means to disseminate information, receive suggestions and comments, and encourage public discussion of the purpose and provisions of the plan. The plan incorporated in the agreement or petition is effective and becomes operative according to its terms if a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question in each affected city or county approves the plan.