(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, one member of the legislative authority of a city from each ward and such number of members thereof at large as is provided by section 731.01 of the Revised Code shall be chosen in each odd-numbered year. Members shall serve for a term of two years commencing on the first day of January next after their election.

(B) A city legislative authority may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the city electors the question of whether the terms of office of the members of the legislative authority should be changed from two to four years. The question may also ask whether the legislative authority should be authorized to establish staggered four-year terms of office among members of the legislative authority by fixing certain terms of office at two years for one term of office but then at four years thereafter. If the resolution calls for submission of the question about staggered terms, the resolution shall specify the number of members to be elected for four-year terms and the number to be elected for two-year terms at the next election for such members. The resolution shall also specify how many of those members elected to four-year terms and how many of those members elected to two-year terms shall be elected from the city at large, and how many from wards. If staggered terms of office are established, the legislative authority shall fix the length of the terms of office prior to the last day fixed by law for filing as a candidate for such office. The question shall be voted upon at the next general election occurring not less than ninety days after the certification of the resolution to the board of elections. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in the affirmative, the terms of office of the members of the legislative authority shall be four years effective on the first day of January following the next regular municipal election, except as may otherwise be provided by the legislative authority to establish staggered terms of office among members of the legislative authority.

A city legislative authority whose members' terms of office are four years may, by a majority vote, adopt a resolution establishing staggered four-year terms of office among members of the legislative authority by fixing certain terms of office at two years for one term of office but then at four years thereafter. The resolution shall specify the number of members to be elected for four-year terms and the number to be elected for two-year terms, and shall specify how many of those members elected to four-year terms and how many of those members elected to two-year terms shall be elected from the city at large, and how many from wards. If staggered terms of office are established, the legislative authority shall fix the length of the terms of office prior to the last day fixed by law for filing as a candidate for such office.

A city legislative authority whose members' terms of office are four years may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the city electors the question of whether the members' terms should be changed back from four to two years. The question shall be voted upon at the next general election occurring not less than ninety days after the certification of the resolution to the board of elections. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in the affirmative, the terms of office of the members of the legislative authority shall be two years effective on the first day of January following the next regular municipal election.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.29, HB 48, §1, eff. 7/2/2010.

Effective Date: 10-01-1987 .