Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §5, as amended, of Chapter 338 of the Acts of Assembly of 1928 is amended and reenacted as follows:

§5. A. The mayor shall be elected at large and shall hold office for four years from the first day of July next following the date of his election, and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. A municipal election for the election of a mayor shall be held on the first Tuesday in May in 1976, and every fourth year thereafter. The term of office of the mayor previously elected in 1971 shall expire on June 31, 1976. The mayor elected at the municipal election to be held on the first Tuesday in May, 1976, shall hold office for a term of four years from the first day of July next following date of his election. The council members shall be elected at large and shall hold office for four years from the first day of July next following the date of their election, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. A municipal election for the election of council members shall be held on the first Tuesday in May in 1974, and every second year thereafter. The terms of office of the three council members previously elected in 1969 shall expire on June 31, 1974, and the terms of office of the three council members previously elected in 1971 shall expire on June 31, 1976. Three council members shall be elected at a municipal election for the election of council members to be held on the first Tuesday in May, 1974, and shall hold office for a term of four years from the first day of July next following the date of their election. Three council members shall be elected at a municipal election for the election of council members to be held on the first Tuesday in May, 1976, and shall hold office for a term of four years from the first day of July next following the date of their election. A justice of the peace shall be elected at large and shall hold office for two years from the first day of July next following the date of his election, and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. The term of office of the justice of the peace previously elected in 1971 shall expire on June 31, 1974. A justice of the peace shall be elected at the municipal election to be held on the first Tuesday in May, 1974, and shall hold office for a term of two years from the first day of July next following the date of his election.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, beginning with the municipal elections to be held in 2016, the time of the election shall transition to the time of the November general election, and those elected shall take office on January 1 following the election. The mayor, council members, and any other locally elected officials whose terms would expire on June 30, 2016, or June 30, 2018, shall have their terms extended for six months. All officials shall serve until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.

C. 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 office or removal of the members of said body or any of them.