The city council shall consist of five members unless, pursuant to the authority granted under section 213 of this act, the city shall be governed by a council of seven or nine members. Members of the city council shall be elected, at large, by the voters of the city at a regular municipal election, and shall serve for a term of four years, except as hereinafter provided for those first elected, beginning on the first Monday of January next following their election.
53 P.S. § 41504