Ala. Code § 11-43A-76

The council shall consist of seven council members who shall be elected by single-member districts. There shall be one mayor, and he shall be elected at large. An election for mayor and members of the council shall be held at the next regularly scheduled municipal election after the adoption of this article, and the officials elected shall take office upon the expiration of the present officials’ terms of office. Regular municipal elections shall be held quadrennially thereafter under the same rules and regulations and in the same manner as provided by law. The expense of such election shall be paid by the municipality and shall be governed by the applicable general municipal election laws.