Municipal Council

General presentations

• 2208659 – Budget of the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður and its enterprises 2023 and 2024-2026

  As it has been discovered that the majority's objective of reducing property taxes was not fully passed on to homeowners due to an error in the calculation of the levy, it is proposed that the charges be corrected accordingly. The proposal involves the property tax rate on residential property decreasing from 0.246% to 0.223%.

  The Coalition submits the following motion:
  It has emerged that the tax increase by the ruling parties, the Independence Party and the Progressive Party, on property tax was even greater than they had anticipated. Socialist representatives warned against this course of action and proposed that the residents of Hafnarfjörður be protected from an property bubble that caused a significant increase in property valuations. The majority parties ignored this advice and pressed on regardless. They are now partially correcting this tax increase, but more can be done. The Social Democratic Party supports this reduction, as it is a step in the right direction.

  Unanimously approved and submitted to the town council for approval.

• 2302533 – Kaplakriki, property, ownership

  A proposal from Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar regarding discussions on property ownership.
  Sigurður Haraldsson, the stage manager, will attend the meeting.

  The town council instructs the mayor to take the matter forward.

• 1903321 – The Reykjanesbraut storage area, limited term lease agreements, agreement

  Request for talks.
  Sigurður Haraldsson, the stage manager, will attend the meeting.

  Presented, and the Head of Department was tasked with preparing a memorandum on the matter.

• 1604079 – Housing plan

  Presented. Sigurður Haraldsson, Head of Department, will attend the meeting.

  Presented and referred for approval to the town council.

• 2210374 – Friends of the World, partnership with the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður

  Draft contract presented.
  Sigurður Haraldsson, the stage manager, will attend the meeting.

  The town council approves the attached agreement and instructs the mayor to finalise the matter.

• 2204035 – Strandgata 41, sewerage, enquiry

  A letter from the solicitors at Thorsplan was presented.
  Sigurður Haraldsson, the stage manager, will attend the meeting.

  Presented, and a memorandum from the town solicitor was requested.

• 2301428 – Pollution accident

  Taken up.
  Sigurður Haraldsson, the Head of Department, attends the meeting and presents a memorandum.

  The Social Democratic Alliance submits the following motion:
  Social Democratic councillors thank the requested information, which reveals that a huge amount of oil, more than 110,000 litres, has leaked into the City of Hafnarfjörður's utility systems from the Costco petrol station in Garðabær. It is a great stroke of luck that the fumes in homes did not lead to permanent health damage for those residents of Hafnarfjörður who experienced the pollution and reported it at the time. The oil leaked through the pipe system for several weeks. It is also a matter for celebration that this pollution incident did not lead to significant contamination of the sea and beaches in Hafnarfjörður. Those familiar with the situation believe that had it been petrol, rather than oil, the consequences could have been much worse. This incident calls for even greater oversight in this area. It is also clear that the termination of the contract with Garðabær for the reception of effluent from the thousands of residential properties in Urriðaholt and the extensive industrial estate must be pursued vigorously, and that reception facility closed as soon as possible. Thirdly, the fee from Garðabær for these services, which is only 12 million annually according to the current agreement, needs to be significantly increased.

• 2302582 – Tjarnarvellir, car park, hire

  A proposal from Icelandair regarding the hire of car parks at Tjarnarvellir was presented.
  Sigurður Haraldsson, the stage manager, will attend the meeting.

  The Town Council approves the application for one year.

• 2302166 – Imposition of property taxes, increase

  Answers to the question from the Social Democratic Party were presented.
  The Social Democratic Alliance submits the following motion:
  The representatives of the Social Democratic Party thank you for the answers. They reveal what the social democrats were concerned about and what prompted these questions from the party: The imposition of property tax and property charges proved to be much higher than intended, as the majority of the Independence and Progressive parties has been forced to correct previous assessments and lower the charges for residents.

• 2302463 – Municipal Loan Fund, board, supply

  A letter from the Municipal Loan Fund was presented. A call for nominations for the board of the Municipal Loan Fund.

  Submitted.

• 2206137 – Ásland 4, allocation

  Applications for detached house plots are being accepted.

  All applications for detached house plots have been reviewed. The plots were allocated by lottery at an extraordinary meeting of the Town Council on 22 November 2022. Applicants then selected plots at a selection meeting held on Tuesday, 7 February 2023. Applicants chose in the order in which they were drawn.
  The Town Council confirms the applicants for detached house plots and agrees to advertise the remaining available plots, referring the matter to the Town Council for approval.

• 1502214 – Marketing Agency of Hafnarfjörður

  Drafts of an agreement with the Marketing Office of Hafnarfjörður were presented.
  Project manager Andri Ómarsson will attend the meeting.

  The Town Council approves the agreement.

• 22111328 – Association of senior citizens in Hafnarfjörður, staff matters

  Taken up.
  The Social Democratic Party requests information on the status of the negotiations in the matter.
  Discussions.

• 1809298 – The Technical College, new building, matter

  Taken for consideration. The Social Democratic Alliance requests a debate on the status of preparations for the relocation of the Technical College to Hafnarfjörður.

  The Social Democratic Alliance submits the following motion:
  Councillors from the Social Democratic Party requested information on the status of the Technical College matter, i.e. the planned relocation of the Technical College to Hafnarfjörður, where a new building is to be erected on the harbour area. The Social Democrats have been closely following this matter in the town council, as it is an exciting project, but an extremely large-scale one and partly complex to implement. This relocation could also call for expenditure of billions from the municipal budget. There have been few answers from representatives of the Independence and Progressive Parties when asked about the progress of discussions and preparations on the home front – within the Hafnarfjörður municipality. A special ministerial committee was appointed on the matter, and it was planned that it would deliver its findings on 1st November. The Social Democratic Party's proposal for a special working group on the matter was rejected by the town council because the committee was due to deliver its findings just a few days later. Now, four months later, the findings are still not available. This is a cause for concern, and we believe there is cause for the majority to reconsider the Social Democratic Party's proposal, which was put forward in the town council on 12th October, and to establish a working group tasked with making the school's construction a reality.
  What is causing this delay in the progress of the case? The unwillingness of the majority in Hafnarfjörður, little support from the government, or what?
  The issues concerning the technical college are urgent; there is a great need for improved facilities so that the provision of vocational education in Iceland can be increased, and the matter cannot withstand any delays or procrastination.

  The Mayor requests that the following be recorded:
  As has been stated during the meeting, the preparatory work on the matter is proceeding normally, and a proposal from the working group is expected next month.

• 2005180 – Transport Agreement

  For discussion.
  The Social Democratic Party requests.
  Capital Region Transport Agreement. Status and Prospects. Discussions

• 1708692 – Bus service, increased service, night-time running and more

  The Social Democratic Party is calling for a debate on the night bus.

  Representatives of the Social Democratic Party put forward the following motion: The Hafnarfjörður Town Council agrees to enter into an agreement with Strætó to launch a night bus service between the capital and Hafnarfjörður as soon as possible. That route was heavily used and was financially viable before the service was discontinued.

  Representatives of the Independence Party and the Progressive Party propose that the consideration of the proposal be postponed until the next meeting in order to obtain further information.
  It was agreed that the Social Democratic Party's representatives would abstain from the proposal.

Minutes

• 2302005F – Harbour Board - 1634

  The minutes of the Harbour Board meeting of 8th February were presented.

• 2302007F – Cultural and Tourism Committee - 403

  The minutes of the Culture and Tourism Committee meeting of 15 February were presented.

• 2301151 – SSH Board, minutes 2023

  The minutes of the SSH board meeting of 6th February were presented.