Terms of office of the newly elected members of the council shall begin on January 1 following the regular municipal election. They shall assume their duties at the first regular meeting thereafter. Thereafter the council shall meet at such times each month as may be prescribed or allowed by ordinance. The mayor or any three members of the council may call special meetings of the council upon such notice as may be prescribed by ordinance. All meetings of the council shall be public and any citizen shall have access to the minutes and records thereof at all reasonable times.