(a) Any law, whether special, local, or general, or municipal ordinance, to the contrary notwithstanding, the City of Fort Payne, in DeKalb County, shall not designate by place number, or by other similar method, seats for city council.

(b) In the election for members of the city council, the 10 candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be in a run-off election, conducted and called as now provided by law; the five candidates in the run-off election receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected to the city council.

(c) Any vacancy in the council which shall exceed 12 months shall be filled by special election in the same manner, on a pro rata basis of the number of seats to fill as the original election, for the duration of the term of the predecessor in office; provided, however, that any vacancy occurring within 12 months of the quadrennial council elections in which a mayor is elected, shall be filled by the council by appointment within 30 days of the occurrence of such vacancy, the appointee to serve out the unexpired term to which he or she is appointed.

(d) The requirements for office, application for candidates, and the fees therefor shall continue to be set by resolution of the city council. It is expressly provided that all other provisions of law and ordinances relating to elections for city council members shall remain effective and except as herein provided, the office of city council members and the operation of the governing body of Fort Payne, Alabama, shall continue as otherwise provided by law.