New Oulu and political organisation in Oulu Riikka Moilanen Chairman of the City Board Video: Oulu – People and the City

The new Oulu Population about 190,000 HAUKIPUDAS KIIMINKI OULU OULUNSALO YLI-II

The new Oulu- a city by the sea and with tree rivers The first merger of large urban municipalities in Finland will take place in the Oulu region, as five municipalities in the region Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulu, Oulunsalo and Yli-Ii are set to merge as of the beginning of The new municipality will be known as Oulu, and it will be the 5th largest city in Finland. The new Oulu – a city by the sea and with three rivers – has shown that it is both willing and able to cooperate with others.

Strategic aims of the merger  Improved vitality and functionality  Setting up a strong network-based Oulu  Development of municipal structure, service structure and services  Special attention on human resources management  Good implementation and continuous assessment of the merger

Municipal Elections 2012 Party/GroupVotes%Councillors Centre Party21, National Coalition P.15, Left Alliance11, Social Democrats10, True Finns Green League Christian Democrats Other candidates Total78, In addition 429 (0,5%) disqualified votes. Turnout 53,7 %.

City Council City Management City Board Chairman of the Council Ms. Mari-Leena Talvitie (Nat. Coal.) The highest decision-making organ in the city of Oulu 67 Councillors Elections every 4 years Strategic management: Mayor Mr. Matti Pennanen Healthcare and Social Welfare services: Deputy Mayor Ms. Sinikka Salo (substitute of Mayor) Community and Environmental services: Deputy Mayor Mr. Matti Matinheikki Education and Culture services: Deputy Mayor Ms. Piia Rantala-Korhonen Chairman of the Board Ms. Riikka Moilanen (Centre) 17 members elected by the City Council for a four-year term Distribution by political party/group: Centre 5, Nat. Coal. 3, Left W. 3, Soc. Dem. 2, Greens 2, True Finns 2 The City Board represents the municipality by using its right to speak and by performing various judicial actions on its behalf.

City Council City Board Mayor Dept. Mayor, Welfare Dept Mayor, Educ and Culture Dept Mayor, Urb and Environment Central election Committee. Committee of Auditing Internal Auditing Auditing Committee Auditor’s Office CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS SERVICES - BusinessOulu HEALTH AND WELL-BEING SERVICES EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL SERVICES URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Oulu Regional Environmental Office Public Utility Oulu Technical Services Public Utility Oulun Tilakeskus Public Utility (facilities management) Oulun Vesi Public Utility (water management) Oulun Jätehuolto Public Utility waste management) Oulu-Koillismaa Rescue Services Public Utility Oulun Serviisi Public Utility (catering) Oulun Tietotekniikka Public Utility (IT) Oulun Energia Public Utility (electricity) Oulun Konttori Public Utility (admin and procurement) Oulun Työterveys Public Utility (occup. health) Dept Mayor Director of Economy Director of Administration Management Board Welfare Committee Educ and Culture Committee. Urban Environmental Committee Management Board Organization on

City Council City Council is the highest municipal decision-making body. Every four years, 67 council members are elected in a municipal election. City Council makes decisions pertaining to municipal economy and finance, as well as setting qualitative and operative objectives for different domains. City Council makes decisions on city administration. It also selects members to serve on municipal boards and managing boards as well as key city officials. City Council meetings are open to the public. The meetings are video- recorded and can be followed on the internet.

City Board is responsible for municipal administration and economy, preparing matters to be decided on by the City Council, and for the implementation and legality of decisions made by the City Council. The Mayor and Deputy Mayors prepare and present matters to be decided on by the City Board. City Board has 17 members, each of whom has a personal deputy. City Council chairmen can take part in the meetings, and they have the right to speak at the meetings. Chairman of City Council is either a full-time or part-time post. City Board meetings are closed to the public, but the decisions are public. City Board

Municipal Boards and Management Boards Municipal boards and management boards are organs consisting of elected officials. The services provided by the City of Oulu fall under their command. The main domains of the City of Oulu are led by the Welfare Board, Education and Culture Board and Urban Environmental Board. The chairmen of the boards may be part-time posts. The municipal boards and management boards report to the City Board. The meetings of the boards and management boards are not open to the public, but their decisions are public. The agendas of all organs are available on the internet prior to the meetings.

On the average age of people living in Oulu was 36,6. Population Oulu is one of the fastest growing urban centres in Finland. Youthful age structure: a constant influx of students and job applicants, and a high nativity Population on Men49.6 % Women50.4 % Foreigners2.3 %4 306

Financial Key Figures *The figures for 2012 include the transition of organising responsibility of the services for Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo and Yli-Ii to Oulu. **Income financing percentage of investments = 100 * annual margin / (investment costs – financial shares) Tax Rate Income from one tax per cent, € mil Tax income, € mil Property tax income, € mil State aid, € mil Investments milj. € Income financing of investments, % ** Change in long-term loans, € mil Loan sums, €/inhabitant Annual margin, € mil Annual margin, €/inhabitant

Structure of Industries The active working population in Oulu is employed as follows (situation on December 2011) Services Industry Commerce and Transport Accomodation and Nutrition2 792 Construction6 090 Farming, Forestry and Mining932 Unknown1 134 Total In 2013 the average number of unemployed was 12,8 calculated on the basis of monthly statistics.

Tourism and things to see City Hall (Kirkkokatu 2a), completed in 1887, was once the centre of refinement and culture in northern Finland with its imposing halls and restaurants. Nowadays the building houses the City’s central administration office. Valve Cultural Centre (Torikatu 8/Ojakatu 4) was completed in The house has also been known as the old City Hall and police station. Oulu Market Square and the Toripolliisi statue by Kaarlo Mikkonen (1986). The Market Square is a cozy meeting place in the summer. The market hall is from 1901 and old salt warehouses, the oldest dating back to the 18 th century. The castle of Oulu was built in 1589 and was destroyed by lightning in The old observation tower built in 1875 for teaching astronomy now serves as a summertime cafe.

Pedestrian street Rotuaari There are a lot of shopping opportunities in Rotuaari, the pedestrian street in the centre of Oulu ”The northernmost pyramids” Romeo and Julia, Oulu University botanical garden. Franzén Park ympäröivät tuomiokirkko, Franzénin talo, Kolmiotalo, Oulun Lyseo ja aluehallintovirasto. Oulu Cathedral, Pikisaari island a home for artists and craftspeople, is just a walking bridge away from the market square.

Hupisaari islands, ”the Fun Islands”, is a popular, green picnic and leisure area with beautiful natural scenery and a summer theatre. Turkansaari island is an outdoor museum where you can learn about old ways of life: farming, cattle-farming, fishing, logging, timber floating and tar burning. Potnapekka minibus is a train-lookalike miniature bus that runs on pedestrian streets and bicycle paths in the summer. Oulu Music Centre, built in 1983, is a lively centre of culture and education. Technopolis, founded in 1982, was the first technology park to be established in Scandinavia.

Area: Oulu, Finland | Coordinates: 65°01’ N, 25°28’ E Elevation: 0 meters (0 ft) Time zone: East European Daylight Time (GMT + 2:00) Thank you! Oulu online: | | | Instagram: Cityofoulu