City Council

Role of City Council

According to the Act on Local Government, City Council has the decision-making power on the use of Reykjavík City revenues and on the implementation of the tasks entrusted to the municipality. It shall ensure that the provisions of the Act on Local Government are enforced, as well as the City of Reykjavík's regulations and resolutions. City Council may pass resolutions on each of the issues it considers to be of concern to the City of Reykjavík. The Resolution on the Administration of the City of Reykjavík and the Rules of Procedure for City Council lists the main tasks:

• To make sure statutory duties are carried out and to supervise the observance of the relevant rules in the work of the City of Reykjavík.
• To elect the president and four vice-presidents of City Council, the City Executive Council, and other committees, councils, and boards, to appoint members to the Audit Committee, and to appoint a statutory auditor or audit firm to audit the accounts of Reykjavík City
• To establish a code of conduct for City Council
• To determine the City of Reykjavík's governance structure and to appoint or elect the mayor. Einar Þorsteinsson was elected Mayor at the City Council meeting on January 16, 2024.
• To develop policies for the City of Reykjavík activities, departments, and institutions, to regulate City of Reykjavík activities and to establish resolutions and tariffs as required by law.
• To exercise the budgetary functions Reykjavík City and to prepare budgets
• To be responsible for the finances of the City of Reykjavík, its institutions, and companies, and to take decisions on the City's significant long-term commitments.
• To supervise the implementation of collaborative projects and service contracts
• To provide information to Reykjavík residents and beneficiaries of its services on matters affecting their interests and on the City’s cooperation with other local authorities.

City Council Meetings

The City Council usually meets twice a month in Reykjavík City Hall on Tuesdays at 12pm. Meetings of City Council are held open to the public unless otherwise decided. Meetings may be canceled for up to two months in the summer.

The meetings of City Council are streamed live online.

• City Council minutes and supporting documentation are also available on the meeting minute web site.

Pursuant to the Resolution on the City Council, the following matters may be included in the agenda:

• Statutory elections, such as those of the President of City Council and four Vice-Presidents, elections of committees, councils, and boards on behalf of the City, as well as the election or appointment of the mayor and City auditors.
• Minutes from the City Executive Council along with minutes from these committees and councils: Presidium, Human Rights & Violence Prevention Council, Culture, Sports, and Leisure Council, School & Recreation Council, Digital Council, Environment & Planning Council and Welfare Council.
• Conclusions and recommendations contained in the minutes of the meeting, and in need of confirmation by City Council.
• Other matters falling within the remit of City Council and the Presidium or matters the Mayor, the President or a city councilor decides to include in the agenda.

President of City Council and Vice-Presidents

City Council elects a president and four vice-presidents from the ranks of city councilors for one year at a time. The President of City Council is Þórdís Lóa Þórhallsdóttir.

• First Vice-President: Magnea Gná Jóhannsdóttir
• Second Vice-President: Líf Magneudóttir
• Third Vice-President: Sabine Leskopf
• Fourth Vice-President: Marta Guðjónsdóttir 

The President of City Council convenes City Council Meetings. The President draws up the agenda for the meetings in consultation with the Mayor and the Presidium. The President of City Council presides over the deliberations of its meetings. The President calls the meeting to order, confirms its legality, presides over discussions and deliberations, and suspends meetings when the agenda is exhausted. The President ensures that the minutes of the meeting are recorded and that all proposals and resolutions are correctly and accurately recorded along with decisions made.

Clerks

City Council elects two clerks and two deputy clerks from City Council for one year at a time. Clerks have the role of counting votes together at the time of voting and are responsible for the completion of the minutes of the meeting with the President of City Council. Árelía Eydís Guðmundsdóttir and Ragnhildur Alda María Vilhjálmsdóttir are City Council clerks. Deputy clerks are Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir and Björn Gíslason.