Hverhöfn City Council
Hverhöfn City Council Býráð hverhöfnar | |
|---|---|
| Leadership | |
Chairperson | Unnsteinn Aðalsteinsson, 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 plays a vital role in the governance and administration of the city, overseeing various sectors from urban development to healthcare. The Council is comprised of 31 members from various political affiliations.
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
Ástríður Jónsdóttir from the Liberals became the Mayor, winning 65.79% of the votes in the final round. The Liberals also emerged as the largest party in the City Council with eight seats, followed by the Greens with six. A new party, the Visionary Party, made its debut with four seats. Stefán Hrafnsson was elected as the City Ombudsman, a role that includes overseeing the City Council.
Members
| Constituency | Neighborhood | Member | Party | Committee assignment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frostvörður | Algorími | Bjorn Eldursson | Visionary Party | Climate and Infrastructure | |
| Ljósafoss | Algorími | Astrid Fjalladóttir | Liberals | Climate and Infrastructure (Vice Chair) | |
| Tindurbyggð | Algorími | Jötunn Fólkason | Visionary Party | Smart City (Vice Chair) | |
| Huldufjörður | Eilífð | Adrían Hlöðversson | Conservative Nationals | Public Safety (Vice Chair) | |
| Sagafljót | Eilífð | Gudrun Huldasdóttir | Liberals | Administration Oversight (Chair) | |
| Ísilundur | Friðhöll | Einfríður Sigmundsdóttir | The Greens | Business, Housing & Zoning | |
| Gulltoppur | Friðhöll | Mýr Þorleifsdóttir | The Greens | Health and Social Welfare (Chair) | |
| Vindás | Heimili pláss | Jakub Kowalski | Alternative | Education and Culture | |
| Skógarey | Heimili pláss | Bergþór Valbjörnsson | Liberals | Business, Housing & Zoning (Chair) | |
| Þróun | Heimili pláss | Unnsteinn Aðalsteinsson | Liberals | Smart City | |
| Fjaraþorp | Hórskehli | Arja Maronsdóttir | Social Democratic Party | Business, Housing & Zoning | |
| Klettahöfn | Hórskehli | Nils-Aslak Valkeapää | Social Democratic Party | Health and Social Welfare | |
| Snjóklettur | Mímir kross | Gyrðir Válason | Liberals | Education and Culture (Chair) | |
| Árdalur | Mímir kross | Bíbí Vikarsdóttir | The Greens | Education and Culture | |
| Eldurheim | Ströndin | Olga Himinljómadóttir | The Greens | Public Safety | |
| Norðurhaf | Ströndin | Vagn Dýrason | Liberals | Health and Social Welfare (Vice Chair) | |
| Mávabyggð | Ströndin | Theresa Bergþórsdóttir | The Greens | Climate and Infrastructure (Chair) | |
| Skjólborg | Útflutningur | Friðmundur Tonnason | Social Democratic Party | Public Safety (Chair) | |
| Samfélag | Útflutningur | Merkúr Hamarsson | Social Democratic Party | Climate and Infrastructure | |
| Hafnarbakkinn | Valkyrjehöfn | Ástvin Kjársson | Liberals | Climate and Infrastructure | |
| Vetrarhjarta | Valkyrjehöfn | Tíbor Olafsson | Social Democratic Party | Smart City (Chair) | |
| Sólberg | Vesturbær | Dolli Hafþórsson | Centre Party | Business, Housing & Zoning (Vice Chair) | |
| At-large 1 | Daggeir Hallsson | Visionary Party | Health and Social Welfare | ||
| At-large 2 | Alexei Ivanov | Conservative Nationals | Education and Culture | ||
| At-large 3 | Otur Reinhartsson | 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 | Ásólfur Geirólfsson | Centre Party | Public Safety | ||
| At-large 7 | Gudrun Huldasdóttir | Visionary Party | Education and Culture (Vice Chair) | ||
| At-large 8 | Þjóðbjörg Starradóttir | Urban Progressives | Health and Social Welfare | ||
| At-large 9 | Ylfa Geiravörsdóttir | 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 Olafsson | Jötunn Fólkason | 3 | ||
| Health and Social Welfare | Oversees public healthcare and social services. | Mýr Þorleifsdóttir | Vagn Dýrason | 5 | ||
| Public Safety | Deals with law enforcement and emergency services. | Friðmundur Tonnason | Adrían Hlöðversson | 5 | ||
| Education and Culture | Manages public education, libraries, and cultural events. | Gyrðir Válason | Gudrun Huldasdóttir | 5 | ||
| Administration Oversight | Oversees the city's governance and identifies inefficient use of taxpayer money. | Gudrun Huldasdóttir | Mateusz Wójcik | 3 | ||
| Climate and Infrastructure | Addresses climate adaptation, public works, transportation, and utilities. | Theresa Bergþórsdóttir | Astrid Fjalladóttir | 5 | ||
| Business, Housing & Zoning | Focuses on economic development, housing policies, and urban planning. | Bergþór Valbjörnsson | Dolli Hafþórsson | 5 | ||
Notable initiatives
The City Council has been instrumental in pioneering Hverhöfn as a "Smart City." AI-driven systems optimize traffic lights, monitor water supply, and enhance waste management. In healthcare, the council has facilitated the incorporation of AI-assisted diagnostics and patient monitoring systems.