Prior to the adoption of an ordinance petitioning the court for city status, the town council shall petition the court to order a referendum held within the town on the question of seeking city status. The provisions of § 24.2-684 shall govern the order for a referendum. The question on the ballot shall be:
"Shall the Town of ____________________ seek to become a city?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No."
If a majority of the electorate voting in the referendum vote "No," the town council shall not proceed in seeking city status. If a majority of the electorate voting in such referendum vote "Yes," the town council shall proceed as provided in § 15.2-3800.
1979, c. 85, § 15.1-982.2; 1982, c. 181; 1997, c. 587.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 38 - Transition of Towns to Cities
§ 15.2-3800. Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court
§ 15.2-3802. Town and county agreement concerning proposed city
§ 15.2-3803. Notice of motion; service and publication; answer or other pleading
§ 15.2-3805. Time limit for intervenors; publication of order
§ 15.2-3806. Pretrial conference; matters considered
§ 15.2-3807. Hearing and decision by court
§ 15.2-3808. Assistance of state agencies
§ 15.2-3810. Declining of grant of city status
§ 15.2-3811. Proceeding final for three years
§ 15.2-3812. Effect when town becomes city
§ 15.2-3813. Town liabilities and assets
§ 15.2-3814. Mayor of town to continue in office
§ 15.2-3815. Council of town to continue in office; additional members
§ 15.2-3816. Town treasurer to continue in office; appointment where town had no treasurer
§ 15.2-3818. Town sergeant to continue in office
§ 15.2-3819. Election and terms of office of mayor and councilmen after town becomes city
§ 15.2-3820. Election and terms of other city officers
§ 15.2-3821. Qualification of officers; vacancies
§ 15.2-3822. Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction
§ 15.2-3823. Tenure and reelection of county officer whose homesite becomes part of city
§ 15.2-3827. Transfer of assessments to city books
§ 15.2-3829. Assumption of debt; adjustment
§ 15.2-3830. Certain costs and expenses to be apportioned between city and county
§ 15.2-3831. Registrars and their duties
§ 15.2-3832. Authority to city to provide by condemnation, etc., water, light, power and fuel
§ 15.2-3833. Chapter not applicable to cities already existing
§ 15.2-3834. Congressional, etc., districts and judicial circuit not changed