The purpose of the petitions is to provide input as to what issues concern people, not to provide a list of things to be the subjects of immediate executive orders. The kind of action we should expect from a successful petition is to put the issue on the agenda, which may lead to policy changes and legislative action.
Interestingly in this scheme, it's not just one way as you made it sound. As soon as the petition reaches a certain threshold it warrants an official answer from the governing body stating their approach on the matter. This way both petitioners and non-petitioners have a glimpse into the decisions that might be taken or not taken on the matter, and decide what to do when election time comes.
