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A message from the mayor after the turn of the month

I have decided to make it a regular feature to put together a few words at the end of each month to report on interesting projects underway within the municipality and to share the highs and lows of the month's challenges, ideas, visits and meetings. There is much to report, but with this I want to better inform residents and other stakeholders about the progress of matters and plans within the municipality.

Summer is approaching and for us at Hafnarfjörður, it doesn't just begin with the rising sun and the arrival of the Loon, but also with our spring preparations, which consist of spring cleaning, sweeping and washing streets, footpaths and roundabouts, as well as advertising summer jobs for 17-year-olds and over. This group of staff is extremely important to us every year, and their tasks are many and demanding throughout the summer. This group, in collaboration with residents and businesses, is responsible for cleaning the town, mowing, leisure activities, museum curation and more, thus playing a vital role in keeping the town clean and tidy, welcoming foreign and domestic tourists, as well as looking after our children through play and coaching. This year, we are placing great emphasis on getting the town clean and tidy earlier, and we have already begun the spring clean in the neighbourhoods of Hafnarfjörður. in accordance with a certain arrangement. At the end of April, we will then collect garden waste from the boundary of the property on specific dates which will be announced separately on our homepage, Facebook page, residents' pages and by notices to every household. This spring, there will be a change: contractors will assist us with the initial mowing and cleaning, specifically to welcome the summer with an even cleaner and more beautiful town. Council staff and summer workers will then continue with the cleaning and mowing throughout the summer. We therefore appeal to residents, as before, to actively participate in this clean-up with us, as this is how we achieve a collective impact and the experience of a clean town. This initiative is one big collaborative project! March was a lively and enjoyable month, but at the same time very busy. Just how we like it: life and vibrancy in our Bay. On Tuesdays, I host open surgery sessions for residents and business representatives in Hafnarfjörður, which are usually well attended. The topics of the meetings are varied, and after each one, my perspective on the community of Hafnarfjörður broadens, as does my sense of its diversity and, not least, the opportunities and the great interest in the municipality these days. Demand for industrial plots has increased significantly, which can be partly attributed to the forthcoming arrival of new flyovers into the Vallahverfi and Hellnahraun districts and the massive development taking place in this part of the City of Hafnarfjörður. Work on blocks of flats in Skarðshlíð and a new school in Skarðshlíð will hopefully begin soon, and plots for detached, semi-detached and council houses are about to be put out to tender. Discussions are underway with landowners and business owners in the western part of Hraun to densify and enhance the area. This and much more is in the pipeline. At the same time, we at Hafnarfjörður Municipality are placing an even greater emphasis on health promotion and recently introduced a health strategy for the municipality, which is focused on fostering the general well-being of residents, mental and physical, at all ages, and to strengthen and enhance self-esteem and well-being. The health strategy supports the City of Hafnarfjörður's vision for the future: to increase the well-being of its residents through preventative measures.The cultural festival Bjartir dagar is coming up in Hafnarfjörður, and my next monthly column will no doubt be heavily influenced by this fantastic participatory festival of the people of Hafnarfjörður, which is, after all, the first summer festival of the year in the country. During Bjartir dagar, we sing in the summer and enjoy what the beautiful Fjord has to offer. I encourage everyone to take part in Bjartir dagar this year and use the opportunity to invite guests HOME to Hafnarfjörður. There should be something for everyone! Let's all go for it! Easter greetings to you all! Attached is a summary of the news from March, and my aim is to put together such a summary at the end of each month for everyone's information:

• Fifteen months' entry age – The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður has for the past few years been working steadily to lower the admission age for nursery school, so that children begin their nursery school attendance in the year they turn 18 months old. From autumn 2017, children born between January and May 2016 will be offered a place in a nursery school, and the youngest children will therefore be 14 and 15 months old when they start. With this, the City of Hafnarfjörður has significantly increased its level of service for families with children.
• Tea for the town council – The Youth Council of Hafnarfjörður held a tea party for the mayor and the town council where proposals concerning schools, prevention, and planning/environment that emerged from the 2017 Youth Assembly were discussed, along with the situation of young people in Hafnarfjörður. The aim of the tea party is to get a better feel for the ideas before they are formally presented to the City Council in June, and subsequently to the various councils of the City of Hafnarfjörður. A formal presentation of the proposals and ideas will take place at Hafnarborg at the beginning of June.
• Fairness and transparency in the work of Hafnarfjörður sports clubs Operational and service agreements have been made with twelve sports clubs in Hafnarfjörður. Increasing support for sports clubs and giving them the opportunity to take on greater responsibility for the operation of facilities will hopefully improve the quality of the clubs' internal operations.
• Tender for the construction of a care home at Sólvang Four tenders were received for the construction of a care home at Sólvang in Hafnarfjörður. The project includes the erection of the building, complete with full interior and exterior finishes, as well as site works. The project is due for completion on 31 August 2018.
• Proud staff and growing job satisfaction – For several years, the City of Hafnarfjörður, in collaboration with third parties, has surveyed employee satisfaction and attitudes towards, for example, the working environment, communication and management practices, and the results have been used for improvements and reforms. The results of the most recent workplace analysis are, on the whole, satisfactory for the City of Hafnarfjörður.
• We are going to eliminate the unexplained pay gap The City of Hafnarfjörður has been participating in a pilot project by the Ministry of Finance and Social Affairs on the implementation of the equal pay standard since 2013. The aim is to eliminate unexplained pay differences and fulfil the legal obligation of employers to pay women and men equal pay, ensuring they receive the same remuneration for the same or equally valued work.
• Construction to begin on new flyover – representatives of the City of Hafnarfjörður, the Road Administration and the contractor behind the construction of the new flyover junction for the Reykjanesbraut and Krýsuvíkurveg took the formal first spadeful of earth for the project. Work will begin immediately, as the project is to be completed in a short timeframe and be finished by 1 November.
• Health games mark the start of health promotion in Hafnarfjörður Around 250 Hafnfirðingar of all ages came together in play and joy at a health and wellbeing event held today at the FH athletics hall in Kaplakriki. The occasion was to formally and unofficially launch the town's health-promoting and strengthening initiatives, following the recent adoption of a health strategy for Hafnarfjörður. The coming days, weeks and months will be dedicated to implementing measures aimed at enhancing the well-being of its residents. enhance open spaces and equal access, and encourage residents to consume healthy food overall.
• Would you like to join us next school year? We are looking to add some fantastic colleagues to our team and are advertising a variety of roles for people of all ages with diverse educational backgrounds and experience in the primary schools of Hafnarfjörður for the 2017-2018 academic year. Information about vacancies is available at radningar.hafnarfjordur.is.
• Children helping children – pupils from Year 5 at Ásland School are taking part in the CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN 2017 appeal, the annual fundraising campaign by ABC Children's Aid in partnership with the country's primary schools. The President of Iceland, Mr Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, officially launched the appeal at the school. The project is directly linked to the cornerstones of Ásland School and is designed to foster understanding and respect for the global community.
• Awards for an excellent reading and presentation – The final of the Great Reading Competition in Hafnarfjörður took place at Hafnarborg, where representatives from the 7th grades of Hafnarfjörður's primary schools took to the stage with polished reading and presentation. The group as a whole received an award for their performance, and the three top performers were also individually recognised. The Great Reading Competition has become an important part of the school and parent community across the country, but the event originated in Hafnarfjörður.
• Fibre-optic cable rollout throughout the town – There has been a great deal of activity on the fibre optic rollout by Míla and Gagnaveitan in Hafnarfjörður over the past few days and weeks. The companies have obtained permission to carry out work throughout the town, and the works are to be advertised specifically by the companies in the relevant neighbourhoods. Road closures are announced separately if any are to take place. The scope of these projects is large and the duration of the work is usually long.