Hverhöfn City Council
Hverhöfn City Council Býráð hverhöfnar | |
|---|---|
| Leadership | |
Chairperson | Unnsteinn Aðalsteinsundr, Liberals |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 31 |
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Political groups |
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The Hverhöfn City Council (Hverlandic: Býráð hverhöfnar) is the legislative body of Hverhöfn, the capital and largest city of Hverland. The council is responsible for passing laws, ordinances, and resolutions that govern the city. It is composed of 31 members who are elected by the residents of Hverhöfn to serve four-year terms. The council meets to discuss and vote on various issues affecting the city, including budget allocations, zoning regulations, and public services.
Composition
The City Council consists of 31 elected members who serve four-year terms. Members are elected to a four-year term in parallel voting, with 22 members elected in single-seat constituencies and 9 members elected by proportional representation. The voting in the elections is open to all citizens of Hverhöfn who are at least 18 years old.
The 2023 municipal election determined the current composition as follows:
- Liberals: 8 seats
- The Greens: 6 seats
- Social Democratic Party: 5 seats
- Visionary Party: 4 seats
- Centre Party: 3 seats
- Urban Progressives: 2 seats
- Conservative Nationals: 2 seats
- Alternative: 1 seat
Mayor
The Mayor is elected separately from the City Council and serves as the head of the executive branch of the city government. The Mayor is responsible for implementing the policies and decisions of the City Council, overseeing city departments, and representing the city in external matters. The Mayor often attends City Council meetings but does not have a vote unless there is a tie.
Ástríður Jónsdotra from the Liberals became the Mayor in 2023, winning 65.79% of the votes in the final round.
Members
| Constituency | Neighborhood | Member | Party | Committee assignment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frostvörður | Algorími | Bjorn Eldursundr | Visionary Party | Climate and Infrastructure | |
| Ljósafoss | Algorími | Astrid Fjalladotra | Liberals | Climate and Infrastructure (Vice Chair) | |
| Tindurbyggð | Algorími | Jotunn Folkasundr | Visionary Party | Smart City (Vice Chair) | |
| Huldufjörður | Eilífð | Adrian Hlothversundr | Conservative Nationals | Public Safety (Vice Chair) | |
| Sagafljót | Eilífð | Gudrun Huldasdóttir | Liberals | Administration Oversight (Chair) | |
| Ísilundur | Friðhöll | Einfrithur Sigmundsdotra | The Greens | Business, Housing & Zoning | |
| Gulltoppur | Friðhöll | Myr Thorleifsdotra | The Greens | Health and Social Welfare (Chair) | |
| Vindás | Heimili pláss | Jakub Kowalski | Alternative | Education and Culture | |
| Skógarey | Heimili pláss | Bergthor Valbjornsundr | Liberals | Business, Housing & Zoning (Chair) | |
| Þróun | Heimili pláss | Unnsteinn Athalsteinsundr | Liberals | Smart City | |
| Fjaraþorp | Hórskehli | Arja Maronsdotra | Social Democratic Party | Business, Housing & Zoning | |
| Klettahöfn | Hórskehli | Nils-Aslak Valkeapää | Social Democratic Party | Health and Social Welfare | |
| Snjóklettur | Mímir kross | Gyrthir Valasundr | Liberals | Education and Culture (Chair) | |
| Árdalur | Mímir kross | Bibi Vikarsdotra | The Greens | Education and Culture | |
| Eldurheim | Ströndin | Olga Himinljomadotra | The Greens | Public Safety | |
| Norðurhaf | Ströndin | Vagn Dyasundr | Liberals | Health and Social Welfare (Vice Chair) | |
| Mávabyggð | Ströndin | Theresa Bergthorsdotra | The Greens | Climate and Infrastructure (Chair) | |
| Skjólborg | Útflutningur | Frithmundur Tonnasundr | Social Democratic Party | Public Safety (Chair) | |
| Samfélag | Útflutningur | Merkur Hamarsson | Social Democratic Party | Climate and Infrastructure | |
| Hafnarbakkinn | Valkyrjehöfn | Astvin Kjarsundr | Liberals | Climate and Infrastructure | |
| Vetrarhjarta | Valkyrjehöfn | Tiibor Olafsundr | Social Democratic Party | Smart City (Chair) | |
| Sólberg | Vesturbær | Dolli Hafthorsundr | Centre Party | Business, Housing & Zoning (Vice Chair) | |
| At-large 1 | Daggeir Hallssundr | Visionary Party | Health and Social Welfare | ||
| At-large 2 | Alexei Ivanov | Conservative Nationals | Education and Culture | ||
| At-large 3 | Otur Reinhartsundr | Liberals | Public Safety | ||
| At-large 4 | Vebjørn Asper | Urban Progressives | Business, Housing & Zoning | ||
| At-large 5 | Mateusz Wójcik | The Greens | Administration Oversight (Vice Chair) | ||
| At-large 6 | Asolfur Geirolfsundr | Centre Party | Public Safety | ||
| At-large 7 | Gudrun Huldasdotra | Visionary Party | Education and Culture (Vice Chair) | ||
| At-large 8 | Thjothbjorg Starradotra | Urban Progressives | Health and Social Welfare | ||
| At-large 9 | Ylfa Geiravorsdotra | Centre Party | Administration Oversight | ||
Roles and responsibilities
The primary roles of the City Council include:
- Legislation: Enacting laws, ordinances, and resolutions that govern the city.
- Budgeting: Drafting and approving the city’s annual budget.
- Oversight: Monitoring the implementation of policies and holding the executive branch accountable.
- Public services: Ensuring the delivery of efficient public services, from waste management to education.
- Strategic planning: Long-term planning aimed at sustainable development, in areas like housing, transportation, and healthcare.
Committees
Several committees are established to focus on specific areas, including:
| Committee | Function | Chair | Vice Chair | Members | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart City | Manages the integration of AI and digital technologies across urban services. | Tíbor Olafsundr | Jötunn Fólkasundr | 3 | ||
| Health and Social Welfare | Oversees public healthcare and social services. | Mýr Þorleifsdotra | Vagn Dýrasundr | 5 | ||
| Public Safety | Deals with law enforcement and emergency services. | Friðmundur Tonnasundr | Adrían Hlöðversuntr | 5 | ||
| Education and Culture | Manages public education, libraries, and cultural events. | Gyrðir Válasundr | Gudrun Huldasdotra | 5 | ||
| Administration Oversight | Oversees the city's governance and identifies inefficient use of taxpayer money. | Gudrun Huldasdotra | Mateusz Wójcik | 3 | ||
| Climate and Infrastructure | Addresses climate adaptation, public works, transportation, and utilities. | Theresa Bergþórsdotra | Astrid Fjalladotra | 5 | ||
| Business, Housing & Zoning | Focuses on economic development, housing policies, and urban planning. | Bergþór Valbjörnsundr | Dolli Hafþórssundr | 5 | ||
Meetings
The City Council meets regularly in the Hverhöfn Municipal Building (Býráðshús hverhöfnar) to conduct business. Meetings are open to the public.
The full council typically meets twice a month, with additional meetings scheduled as needed. Meetings are presided over by the Mayor or a designated council member. The agenda for each meeting is set in advance and includes items such as public hearings, committee reports, and votes on proposed legislation.
The council agenda is managed on the city's legislative information management system (löggjafarupplýsingakerfi), which provides access to meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and other relevant documents. Residents can also submit comments and feedback on proposed legislation through the system.
Notable initiatives
The City Council has implemented several notable initiatives in recent years to improve the quality of life for residents and promote sustainable development. Some of these initiatives include:
- The Green Streets Project (Grænir götur verkefnið) to increase green spaces and pedestrian-friendly areas in the city.
- The Affordable Housing Program (Háðbyrgðar húsnæðisáætlun) to address the housing affordability crisis in Hverhöfn.
- Smart City Hverhöfn (Snjallborg hverhöfn) to integrate technology and data-driven solutions to enhance city services and infrastructure.
- Technology and Innovation Hub (Tækni- og nýsköpunar miðstöð) to support startups and entrepreneurs in Hverhöfn.