Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §3-2 of Chapter 113 of the Acts of Assembly of 1971 is amended and reenacted as follows:

§3-2. Nominations and Elections.

Primary elections or mass meetings may be held for the nomination of candidates for mayor and council but not required. The mayor and six councilmen shall be elected at a regular municipal election to be held on the first Tuesday in May, 1972, three councilmen to be elected for a term of two years and three councilmen to be elected for a term of four years, and every two years thereafter in the manner prescribed by law for terms of four years each, except the mayor whose term shall be for a period of two years, beginning on the first day of July, 1972 and the mayor to be elected for a term of four years for any term beginning after December 31, 2012, and shall serve until their successors have been elected and qualified. The six present council members elected at the June, 1970 municipal election for terms of two years from September 1, 1970, shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. However, beginning in 2012, the municipal election shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November with terms to commence on the following January 1. The mayor and those members of council whose terms expire on June 30, 2012, or June 30, 2014, shall have their terms extended by six months until their successors have been elected and qualified. The council shall be a continuing body and no measure pending before such body shall abate or be discontinued by reason of expiration of the term of or removal of any of its members.

2.  That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.