Town Council

General presentations

• SB040377 – Minutes of the Planning and Building Officer

  Minutes from the processing meetings of the Planning and Building Officer on 08.06.11 and 15.06.11 were presented. Item A was dealt with by the building officer in accordance with the Building Act no. 160/2010. $line$ Presented.$line$

• 1004556 – Bylaws of the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður, amendments - second reading

  A by-law amending the by-law on the administration of the Borough of Hafnarfjörður was presented. The First Deputy Chair, Valdimar Svavarsson, took over the chair. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir spoke. The Chair took over the chair again. Valdimar Svavarsson spoke. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, the Mayor, spoke. Then Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir spoke. Then Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir made a point of order. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson spoke. Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir made a point of order. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson replied to the point of order. The Town Council agreed to refer the amendment to the Council's Rules of Procedure to a second reading.

  The First Vice-President, Valdimar Svavarsson, took the chair. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir spoke and put forward an amendment to the proposed amendment to the Council of the City of Hafnarfjörður's by-laws, as well as the organisational chart for the City of Hafnarfjörður in accordance with the proposal. The Chair took the chair again. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir spoke. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, the Mayor, spoke. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir spoke in reply. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason responded to the intervention. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir intervened for a second time. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason responded to the second intervention. Valdimar Svavarsson spoke. Then Geir Jónsson. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir made a point of order. Proposed amendment and agenda item approved by 11 unanimous votes.

• 0805185 – Strandgata 8-10, housing issues

  Gudmundur Rúnar Árnason, the mayor, took the floor. Then Helga Ingólfsdóttir, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir. Then Gudmundur Rúnar Árnason took the floor. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a point of order. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason replied to the intervention. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir intervened for a second time. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason replied to the intervention for a second time. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a brief remark. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason made a brief comment.$line$$line$ Eyjólfur Sæmundsson left the meeting at 15:22. He was replaced by Hörður Þorsteinsson. $line$$line$Helga Ingólfsdóttir took the floor. Then Geir Jónsson. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir made a point of order. Geir Jónsson replied to the intervention. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir intervened for a second time. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason intervened in response to Geir Jónsson's previous speech. Geir Jónsson replied to an intervention. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir took the floor. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir intervened. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir replied to an intervention. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir intervened a second time. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir replied to an objection for the second time. Helga Ingólfsdóttir submitted the following statement on behalf of the representatives of the Independence Party: At the meeting of the town council on 14 April last... it was approved to lease approximately 700 sq m of office premises from Byr hf at Strandgata 8-10 as part of the so-called efficiency measures involving the relocation of institutions, among others, from Strandgata 31 and 33 to the aforementioned premises. The aim is to consolidate the institutions under one roof and thereby achieve economies of scale in accordance with the 2011 budget. There is uncertainty regarding the use of the borough's properties, which will stand vacant following the changes. The majority of the town council has stated that this project is being carried out in accordance with the objectives of the budget.$line$Nowhere in the budget is there a provision to increase the council's financial commitments through additional leased premises, on the contrary, it is described that the council's use of third-party leased accommodation is to be minimised as much as possible.$line$$line$On p. 42 of the budget's statement of policy reads:$line$Among the measures to be taken next year will be a reorganisation of the use of the council's property portfolio. The aim is therefore to minimise the council's rental of premises from third parties and to move the activities that take place in such premises into its own premises where possible. An effort will be made to reduce and consolidate sites. This will lead to better utilisation of premises, personnel and funds, as well as creating the basis for improved service to residents through greater synergy and interdisciplinary collaboration.$line$$line$$line$It must also be considered irresponsible to saddle the municipality with a new lease agreement and the cost of refurbishing the premises while there is still uncertainty about the refinancing of the municipality's loans amounting to millions.million króna and difficult conditions prevail in the property market.“$line$Valdimar Svavarsson (sign), Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir (sign), Ólafur Ingi Tómasson (sign),$line$Geir Jónsson (sign), Helga Ingólfsdóttir. $line$$line$ A short break was taken. The meeting resumed.$line$$line$ Gunnar Axel Axelsson submitted the following statement on behalf of the representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-wing Greens:$line$“The measures proposed are fully in line with the objectives set out in the 2011 financial statement regarding the reduction of sites and operational rationalisation. The relocation of the social services also meets the changed accommodation needs in this area, which are related to the transfer of services for disabled people that came into effect at the turn of the year. $line$The necessary improvements due to the move will be financed by the lease or sale of other properties. However, it seems that the councillors of the Independence Party are strongly opposed to the majority of the town council successfully bringing these matters to a conclusion.$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir (sign), Gunnar Axel Axelsson (sign), Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir (sign),$line$Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir (sign), Hörður Þorsteinsson (sign), Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason (sign).

• 1006187 – Councils and committees 2010-2014, elections, election of president, vice-president and secretary.

  Election of the president, vice-president and secretary. A vote was held.$line$$line$Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir received 11 votes as president of the town council for one year. She is therefore declared duly elected to the office.$line$$line$ Valdimar Svavarsson received 11 votes as First Deputy Mayor of the Town Council for one year. He is therefore deemed duly elected to the office.$line$$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir received 11 votes as 2nd Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Council. She is therefore deemed duly elected to the office.$line$$line$Helga Ingólfsdóttir and Gunnar Axel Axelsson both received 11 votes as deputy mayors. They are therefore duly elected to the office of secretary. $line$$line$ Eyjólfur Sæmundsson and Geir Jónsson both received 11 votes as deputy secretaries of the town council. They are deemed duly elected to the office of deputy secretary. $line$$line$The Mayor wished the above-mentioned well in their duties. $line$$line$ Elections to councils, committees and boards:$line$$line$ For one year:$line$ Town Council: $line$Gunnar Axel Axelsson, Brekkugata 18 $line$Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir, Suðurgata 38$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Fjarðargata 17$line$Valdimar Svavarsson, Birkibergi 30$line$Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Kirkjuvegur 7$line$ $line$Alternatives:$line$Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, Eyrarholti 10$line$Eyjólfur Sæmundsson, Fagrahvammi 7$line$Jóhanna Marín Jónsdóttir, Álfaskeiði 78$line$Kristinn Andersen, Austurgata 42$line$Geir Jónsson, Burknavellir 1c$line$ $line$Family Council: $line$Gunnar Axel Axelsson, Brekkugata 18 $line$Guðný Stefánsdóttir, Stekkjarhvammi 3$line$Birna Ólafsdóttir, Hóla Avenue 2$line$Geir Jónsson, Fern Meadow 1c$line$Elín Óladóttir, Hellisgata 35$line$ $line$Alternatives:$line$Kristín Gunnbjörnsdóttir, Sléttahrauni 30$line$Geir Guðbrandsson, Suðurholti 12$line$Jóhanna Marín Jónsdóttir, Álfaskeiði 78$line$Axel Guðmundsson, Lækjarbergi 32$line$Guðrún Jónsdóttir, Suðurgata 67$line$ $line$Environment and Operations Council: $line$Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir, Suðurgötu 38$line$Hörður Þorsteinsson, Stuðlabergi 38$line$Árni Stefán Jónsson, Stuðlabergi 110 $line$Valdimar Svavarsson, Birkiberg 30$line$Helga Ingólfsdóttir, Hellubraut 8$line$ $line$Alternatives:$line$Árni Björn Ómarsson, Hverfisgötu 22$line$Guðrún Lísa Sigurðardóttir, Smyrlahrauni 12$line$Gestur Svavarsson, Breiðvangi 30$line$Helga Vala Gunnarsdóttir, Brekkuási 8$line$Konráð Jónsson, 42$line$ $line$ Education Committee:$line$ Eyjólfur Sæmundsson, Fagrahvammi 7$line$ Helena Mjöll Jóhannsdóttir, Austurgata 29b$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Fjarðargata 17$line$Kristinn Andersen, Austurgata 42$line$Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir, Lækjarkinn 6$line$ $line$Substitutes:$line$Fridþjófur Karlsson, Lækjarbergi 17 $line$Guðlaug Sigurðardóttir, Skipalóni 27$line$Gestur Svavarsson, Breiðvangi 30$line$Kristjana Ósk Jónsdóttir, Glitvangi 13$line$Halldóra Björk Jónsdóttir, Hverfisgata 45$line$ $line$ Planning and Building Committee: $line$Guðfinna Guðmundsdóttir, Birkihvammi 15$line$Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, Thrastarsás 3$line$Sigurbergur Árnason, Norðurvangi 44$line$Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Kirkjuveg 7$line$Ólafur Ingi Tómasson, Fjóluhvammi 9$line$ $line$ Substitutes: $line$ Guðrún Margrét Ólafsdóttir, Hamarsbraut 4$line$ Guðjón Sveinsson, Klukkubergi 19$line$ Klara Hallgrímsdóttir, Kvistarvöllum 44$line$Jóhanna Fríða Dalkvist, Köldukinn 23$line$Þóroddur Steinn Skaftason, Miðvangi 3$line$ $line$Sports and Leisure Committee:$line$Ragnheiður Ólafsdóttir, Kvistabergi 1$line$Klara Hallgrímsdóttir, Kvistarvellir 44$line$Lára Janusdóttir, Teigabyggð 8$line$ $line$Alternatives:$line$Magnús Sigurjónsson, Víðivangi 9$line$Fjölnir Sæmundsson, Lækjarkinn 10$line$Gísli Rúnar Gíslason, Ring Road 17$line$$line$$line$ Cultural and Tourism Committee $line$ Þorsteinn Kristinsson, Fjóluási 32$line$ Jóhanna Marín Jónsdóttir, Álfaskeiði 78$line$Unnur Lára Bridde, Fjóluás 20$line$ $line$Alternate members:$line$Dagbjört Gunnarsdóttir, Víðivangi 3$line$Hlíf Ingibjörnsdóttir, Hverfisgata 50$line$Kristinn Árni Lár. Hróbjartsson, Klausturhvammi 4 $line$ $line$Board of Hafnarborg:$line$Almar Grímsson, Herjólfsgötu 38$line$Margrét Friðbergsdóttir, Lækjarhvammi 7$line$ $line$ Reykjanes Folk Museum: $line$ Helena Mjöll Jóhannsdóttir, Austurgötu 29b$line$ $line$ Alternate: Jóhanna Marín Jónsdóttir, Álfaskeiði 78$line$$line$Bláfjallanefnd:$line$Hörður Þorsteinsson, Stuðlabergi 38$line$ $line$Eftirlaunasjóður Hfj.: $line$Main member: Fjölnir Sæmundsson, Lækjarkinn 10,$line$Alternate member: Sigurbergur Árnason, Norðurvangi 44.$line$$line$Strætó bs.:$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Fjarðargata 17$line$ $line$ Alternate:$line$Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, Eyrarholti 10$line$$line$ Sorpa bus.:$line$Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir, Suðurgötu 38$line$ $line$Alternate:$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Fjarðargata 17$line$ $line$Swede-Fire of the Capital Region:$line$Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, Eyrarholti 10, $line$ $line$ Alternate: $line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Fjarðargata 17$line$$line$Sub-committee on Regional Planning for the Capital Region:$line$Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, Þrastarási 3,$line$Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Kirkjuvegur 7.$line$$line$Representative Council of the Association of Icelandic Municipalities in the Capital Region:$line$Helga Ingólfsdóttir, Hellubraut 8,$line$Gunnar Axel Axelsson, Brekkugata 18.$line$$line$Chair of the Municipal Council: Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Fjarðargata 17$line$ $line$Chair of the Family Council: Gunnar Axel Axelsson, Brekkugata 18$line$ $line$Chair of the Education Council: Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Fjarðargötu 17$line$ $line$Chair of the Environment and Operations Committee: Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir, Suðurgötu 38 $line$ $line$Chair of the Planning and Building Committee: Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, Þrastarási 3$line$ $line$ As no further nominations were made, the Chair declared all those named above duly elected to the aforementioned committees, boards and councils.

• 1101098 – Minutes 2011, for presentation to the town council.

  Minutes of the Town Council from 23 June. $line$a. Minutes of the Harbour Board from 16th and 21st June. $line$b. Minutes of the Health Committee of the Hafnarfjörður and Kópavogur area from 28th February and 24th March. $line$c. Minutes of the Board of SORPU bs. from 30 May last.$line$d. Minutes of the Board of Strætó bs. from 3 June last.$line$ Minutes of the Planning and Building Council from 21. June last.$line$Minutes of the Family Council from 22 June last.$line$Minutes of the Executive Board from 22 June last.$line$Minutes of the Education Committee from 20 June last.

  Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, the Mayor, spoke under item 3 – Loan refinancing – in the minutes of the Town Council from 23 June. Valdimar Svavarsson spoke under the same item and also under item 5 – Krýsuvík, energy research – in the minutes of the town council meeting of 23 June. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir and Geir Jónsson spoke under the aforementioned item 3 in the council's minutes, and Geir also spoke under item 4 – Sólvangur – in the minutes of the Family Council from 22 June. The First Vice-Chair, Valdimar Svavarsson, took the chair. Gunnar Axel Axelsson spoke on item 3 of the Council's minutes from 23 June. Geir Jónsson responded. Gunnar Axel Axelsson replied to the intervention. The Chair took the chair again. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir intervened in the previous speech by Gunnar Axel Axelsson. Gunnar Axel Axelsson replied to the intervention. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir intervened a second time. Gunnar Axel Axelsson replied to the point of order for a second time. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a brief comment. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir made a point of order regarding Gunnar Axels Axelsson's previous speech. Helga Ingólfsdóttir spoke under item 3 in the minutes of the Town Council meeting of 23 June. Gunnar Axel Axelsson spoke under item 4 in the minutes of the Family Council meeting of 22 June. Gudmundur Rúnar Árnason, the Mayor, spoke. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir spoke on item 2 – Bus service – Álftanes – in the minutes of the Town Council meeting of 23 June. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir made a point of order. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir responded to the point of order. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir spoke under item 2 in the minutes of the town council meeting of 23 June. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a point of order. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir responded to the point of order. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a point of order a second time. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir replied to the second intervention.$line$$line$Valdimar Svavarsson made the following statement on behalf of the Independence Party representatives:$line$“The Independence Party members of the town council are concerned that the town council's loans with DEPFA bank have been in arrears since the beginning of April. The Independence Party hopes that the refinancing will be completed as soon as possible and that this will thus eliminate the uncertainty surrounding the council's finances. However, it is clear that however that work concludes, the city's interest payments will increase significantly, thereby further straining the municipality's finances in the long term. The estimated additional cost due to the increased interest expense will in all likelihood amount to up to 500 million króna. That is equivalent, for example, to running around 5 nurseries. Furthermore, the terms of the loans are crucial, as it is likely that refinancing will tie the hands of the municipality regarding further borrowing and investment for years, and even decades, to come. The Independence Party therefore reiterates that the precondition for the town to meet its obligations is that the plans are realised in the coming months and years.$line$Valdimar Svavarsson (sign), Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir (sign), Ólafur Ingi Tómasson (sign),$line$Geir Jónsson (sign), Helga Ingólfsdóttir (sign).$line$$line$ A short break was taken. $line$$line$ Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason submitted the following motion on behalf of the representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Party: $line$“The projects ahead involve completing the refinancing of the municipality's loans and thereby strengthening its position. The end of that project is now in sight, as Hafnarfjörður is working to refinance all the municipality's loans with Depfa Bank, thereby reducing currency risk and refinancing needs for the coming years. Following the refinancing, the position of Hafnarfjörður will be fundamentally changed, as stated in the Reitun report on the municipality's creditworthiness. The report states, among other things, that the budgets for the coming years are prudent and are based on the current economic situation. No increase in population or land sales is expected, so it is obvious that as soon as the economy recovers, the finances of Hafnarfjörður will improve very quickly.“ $line$Hörður Þorsteinsson (sign), Gunnar Axel Axelsson (sign), Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir (sign),$line$Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason (sign), Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir (sign)

• 1106229 – Summer recess of the town council

  Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir took the floor and put forward the following motion:$line$“The City Council resolves that the City Board shall handle the final settlement of all matters during the 2011 summer recess, from 29 June to 31 August, in accordance with Article 65 of the Municipal Constitution of Hafnarfjörður and the Rules of Procedure of the City Council.“The City Council approved the proposed motion with 11 unanimous votes.