MOSFELLSBÆRA SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY Better town – Brighter future

LOCAL AGENDA 21Action Plan by Mosfellsbær until 2020

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INTRODUCTIONMosfellsbær – a sustainable community is a welfare action plan in the same spirit as Local Agenda 21.

The action plan in question is an ambitious vision of how the town is to develop in a dynamic and sustainable way in the years and decades ahead. The aim is to build an even stronger and healthier community in the long term, for the benefit of all.

The focus is explicitly on the uniqueness and independence of Mosfellsbær, but also on the status and role of the town in the urban conglomeration of the capital area.

The policy objectives of Mosfellsbær for a sustainable community until 2020, therefore, contain an action plan of what needs to be done in Mosfellsbær in order to meet the goals for a sustainable community in the 21st Century, which would guarantee acceptable living conditions for the inhabitants, as well as future generations.

Local Agenda 21 is a comprehensive blueprint for action for each

community into the 21st Century, which municipal governments

of the world are expected to implement in accordance with a

resolution made by the United Nations Conference on Environment

& Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The programme contains

a long-term welfare plan, where environmental, financial and social

factors are equally taken into account.

SUSTAINABLE DEvELOPMENT

LOCAL AGENDA 21

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CONTeNTIntroduction........................................................... p. 1

Mosfellsbær – A unique community ..................... p. 4

Local Agenda 21 í Mosfellsbær ............................ p. 6

The policy of Mosfellsbær .................................... p. 8

The values of Mosfellsbær ................................... p. 10

The role of Mosfellsbær ....................................... p. 11

Our policy .............................................................. p. 12

Our vision .............................................................. p. 14

Emphasis .............................................................. p. 16

How can you contribute? ...................................... p. 22

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Sustainable development has been

defined as a pattern of resource

use that meets the needs of the

present, without reducing the

possibilities of future generations

to meet their needs.

SUSTAINABLE DEvELOPMENT

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MOSFeLLSBÆR – a UNIQUe COMMUNITYMosfellsbær district is a community of 8,600 inhabitants in the outskirts of the greater capital region and has a total area of 220 square kilometres. The region has developed fast in recent years, as an increasing number of people seek life in a community like Mosfellsbær, which offers an urban life in a rural setting.

Town planning is adapted to the varied and beautiful nature within its limits where vast natural areas are available, offering unique recreational possibilities sheltered by hills and heaths, and by the lakes and coastlines.

Mosfellsbær boasts a considerable uniqueness as far as variety is concerned. The community consists of an urban area Leirvogur cove, where essential services are provided, as well as a vast rural territory such as Mosfellsdalur valley.

The inhabitants of Mosfellsbær appreciate their surroundings and are generally fond of outdoor activities. Horsemanship is a prominent part of everyday life, as horse riding paths stretch into all directions.

Excellent marked walking paths are available from the shore to the mountains, and sports facilities in Mosfellsbær are not rivalled by many towns.

Two golf courses are located in Mosfellsbær, and facilities for bird watching are also available in Leirvogur and by the river mouths of varmá and Kaldakvísl. Many pearls of nature and historical sites are to be found in the Mosfellsbær district, such as waterfalls Tröllafoss and Helgufoss, river varmá, the church Mosfellskirkja and the archaeological excavation site by Hrísbrú in valley Mosfellsdalur.

The occupational history of the area is also unique in many ways, with its long-standing tradition of a comprehensive woollens industry and poultry farming.

Culture has also occupied a place in the history of Mosfellsbær for a long period of time, as the writer and Nobel Prize Laureate Halldór Kiljan Laxness used to be a habitual resident of Gljúfrasteinn in valley Mosfellsdalur.

Other examples are cultural objects in Álafosskvos and varied cultural activitie.

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LOCaL aGeNDa 21 IN MOSFeLLSBÆRIn the autumn of 1998 the town council of Mosfellsbær decided to develop a Local Agenda 21. In January 2001 the council agreed on an implementation plan for Local Agenda 21 in Mosfellsbær, and signed as well the so-called Ólafsvík Declaration, which means that sustainable development is the guiding light in the town council‘s decision-making.

In recent years, Mosfellsbær has made some progress on this path. Special emphasis has been placed on creating a beautiful and family-oriented environment where nature is allowed to play a part, and familiarising the inhabitants with the ideology of sustainable development.

Mosfellsbær has received numerous recognitions for good results while adopting Local Agenda 21, especially for the part the public has played in the process. Recognition for the publication of newsletter Sólargeislinn, which addresses Local Agenda 21 issues, is one example, as well as the Local Agenda 21 Award in 2001.

The agenda should be under constant revision, as times change and the focus shifts, therefore, it was decided in 2008 to review the goals of the Local Agenda 21 for Mosfellsbær.

The project management for Local Agenda 21 in Mosfellsbær is composed of the following people: Jóhanna B. Magnúsdóttir, chairperson, Herdís Sigurjónsdóttir, Óðinn Pétur vigfússon, Gerður Pálsdóttir and Tómas G. Gíslason, director of environment, who is an employee of the management.

The enclosed document is the outcome of the management‘s activities and was approved by the town council of Mosfellsbær in July 2009. It contains the policy of Mosfellsbær for a sustainable community until 2020, thefuture vision of the community and the main issues that needto be emphasised in order to realise the sustainability goals.

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THE ÓLAFSvíK DECLARATION

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The Ólafsvík Declaration is an undertaking by the municipalities in Iceland

whereby they contribute towards sustainable development, i.e. by involving the

inhabitants, non-governmental organisations and economic agents in dynamic

participation in projects related to Local Agenda 21, and by using the targets of

sustainable development as a guiding light when decisions on municipal matters

are made.

THE ÓLAFSvíK DECLARATION

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• Mosfellsbær is a popular town and residential area where families are put first.

• Mosfellsbær is a dynamic community, responsible towards nature and the environment, where efficiency and communal responsibility are constant criteria.

• The administration and services of Mosfellsbær are effective, responsible, of high quality and among the best in Iceland.

• Mosfellsbær is a desirable workplace for competent individuals, where emphasis is put on a personal and modern service.

THe POLICY OF MOSFeLLSBÆR FOR a SUSTaINaBLe COMMUNITY UNTIL 2020 LINKING TO THE POLICY-MAKING OBJECTIVES OF MOSFELLSBÆR FROM 2008.

The policy objectives of Mosfellsbær for a sustainable community until 2020 are directly linked to the policies made by the town in 2008. The process involved employees of Mosfellsbær, elected delegates and the inhabitants of the municipality, and their work was presented in a policy-making report, which contains the following vision for the future:

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THe VaLUeS OF MOSFeLLSBÆR

During the policy making process, values were defined for Mosfellsbær which are meant to

act as a guiding light in all the activities of the municipality. The four values of Mosfellsbær are:

POSITIvITY

RESPECT

CONCERN

PROGRESSIvENESS

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“Mosfellsbær is a dynamic community which cultivates willingness and respect.”

The policy-making activity is, in fact, the cornerstone of the policy of Mosfellsbær for

sustainable development presented here; the two policies are joined by unbreakable bonds

and support each other while a sustainable community is created, which takes the welfare

of the inhabitants into account.

The role of Mosfellsbær as a municipal community was defined in the following way:

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• Lead the way in sustainability among Icelandic municipalities

• Increase public accessibility to the decision-making process in the community to strengthen democratic principles

• Increase transparency in the administration and the flow of information to the inhabitants

• Promote a varied existence that is at peace with nature

• Promote and support increased environmental awareness among the inhabitants

The policy objectives for

a sustainable community

in Mosfellsbær until

2020 emphasise that the

community will:

OUR POLICY

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The town council has decided on a particular future vision to enable targeted action towards the policy of a sustainable community that has been decided. The vision of Mosfellsbær is as follows:

Mosfellsbær wants to be in the forefront of sustainable development in comparison with other municipalities, as well as being a dynamic, environmentally friendly and modern community which offers diversification.

OUR VISION

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eMPHaSISMosfellsbær puts the following

emphasis on various policy areas, which classify the community as

encouraging, enveloping, dynamic and healthy.

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eNCOURaGING COMMUNITYMosfellsbær:

• puts the individual first and uses the needs, social condition and environment of each and every one as a frame of reference to further education and understanding of the community.

• encourages the inhabitants towards self-help and offers support in ways that are feasible.

• respects the rights of individuals to live and thrive in a community built on democracy, equality and gender equality.

• furthers inhabitant democracy by encouraging the population to take part and be active in accordance with the values of the town.

• adopts democratic procedures and demonstrates social responsibility.

• supports the economic activity of the community in moving towards sustainable development.

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eMBRaCING COMMUNITYMosfellsbær:

• is a popular residential community where families are put first.

• is a tolerant community which boasts varied human dimensions in a multicultural society.

• shows concern for families and offers family-friendly service of the highest quality.

• looks into the needs of senior citizens and children especially.

• promotes responsibility towards nature.

• puts emphasis on the preservation of unspoilt nature, declaration of protection in noteworthy areas and connecting habited areas to the natural environment.

• is a town for outdoor activities where it is easy for the inhabitants to be close

to nature in numerous ways.

• offers healthy and environmentally friendly recreational activities and family-friendly entertainment.

• cultivates respect and cares for the inhabitants.

• creates an attractive environment for ambitious enterprises, without compromising the environment, and in context with the town‘s uniqueness.

• social responsibility.

• supports the economic activity of the community in moving towards sustainable development.

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DYNaMIC COMMUNITYMosfellsbær:

• boasts dynamic educational activities in a community of education and culture.

• creates a varied framework around the culture of the locals.

• promotes a varied artistic and cultural community which appeals to the population.

• cultivates the preservation of cultural objects.

• works towards an ecological and economical operation of the municipality.

• leads the way in e-government.

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HeaLTHY COMMUNITYMosfellsbær:

• leads the way in public health, health promotion and rehabilitation.

• creates a dynamic framework for sports and prevention measures.

• is a hospitable community that gives travellers a warm reception.

• emphasises the building of areas for outdoor recreation and health promotion without compromising the natural environment.

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• Sort and recycle waste

• Reduce packaging waste

• Turn off lights, electric equipment, computers and televisions not in use

• engage in healthy exercise and choose a healthy lifestyle

• Use environmentally friendly means of transportation; public transport, cycling, walking

• Choose products manufactured locally

• Use products certified according to environmental standards

• No littering in public places

• Take part in the Global action Plan

• Be positive and respect others

• Take part in the activities of inhabitants‘ associations

• Keep environmental issues in mind in their activities

• Use renewable energy

HOW CaN YOU CONTRIBUTe to a better future for the community and its people?

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For further information see www.mos.is or contact the project leader of Local Agenda 21 in Mosfellsbæn. Tel. +354 525 6700.

Publisher: Mosfellsbær, july 2009. Design: Stefán Einarsson.