Major’s Remarks:
1. The arrival of the first front of the Plum Rain season is expected tomorrow. This period is characterized by prolonged yet moderate rainfall. However, due to climate change, there is an increased likelihood of both brief and prolonged heavy rain during this time. In preparation, the Water Resources Bureau and other relevant departments are urged to prepare flood prevention measures. The Public Works Bureau is responsible for reinforcing trees and maintaining road surfaces diligently. The Environmental Protection Bureau is called upon to prioritize side ditch dredging. Meanwhile, the Department of Information and International Relations is tasked with staying updated on new information and promptly disseminating flood prevention directives as they arise.
2. The 2024 National Middle School Athletic Games has drawn to a close, with athletes from Tainan City clinching an impressive total of 123 medals, including 44 golds—a record-breaking achievement since the merger of counties and cities. Gratitude is extended to the Sports Bureau, coaches, and parents for their unwavering support and dedication. The Sports Bureau is encouraged to continue allocating funds to support athletes in training and ensuring optimal care while also retaining exceptional talent within Tainan City for ongoing development. Anticipation is high for Tainan City to host the National Middle School Athletic Games in 2025, with hopes that the city's representative team will once again deliver remarkable performances and achieve outstanding results.
Reports
1. The Transportation Bureau provided a report on the "Current Status of Establishment and Operation of the Public Bicycle Rental System, YouBike 2.0" (refer to written sources for details).
Resolution: Approved for reference filing.
Mayor’s Comments:
(1) The YouBike 2.0 program has been serving Tainan City for approximately 14 months since its launch in February last year, garnering significant affection from citizens. Its usage rate has notably surpassed that of the original T-Bike program. Beyond alleviating the city government's financial burdens, YouBike 2.0 offers citizens convenient transportation options, fostering a mutually beneficial scenario for both the government and residents.
(2) Tainan City has earned a prestigious position among the top 12 most bike-friendly cities globally, according to a renowned cycling magazine. To uphold this distinction and prevent bicycle-related accidents, which can deter people from cycling, the Public Works Bureau, Water Resources Bureau, Police Bureau, and other pertinent bureaus and departments are called upon to collaborate in improving the existing bicycle lanes, securing resources for new lanes, and safeguarding the rights of cyclists. In the realm of transportation, pedestrians should be accorded the utmost respect over cars and bicycles. Nevertheless, cycling offers numerous conveniences and promotes healthy transportation habits for citizens. Hence, it is essential for relevant bureaus and departments to intensify public awareness campaigns among cyclists, emphasizing the importance of yielding to pedestrians to foster a safer traffic environment.
(3) While TPASS represents a commendable policy of the central government, its utilization rate in Tainan City remains relatively low, resulting in discrepancies in resource allocation and affecting citizens' rights and interests. Therefore, pertinent bureaus and departments are urged to intensify efforts in promoting TPASS. Furthermore, alongside proposing to the central government the reallocation of a portion of TPASS subsidies to other modes of public transportation, legislative representatives are also encouraged to advocate for increased support from the central government.
2. The Agriculture Bureau presented a report on the "2024 Outcome of Agricultural Products Export from Tainan City" (refer to written sources for details).
Resolution: Approved for reference filing.
Mayor’s Comments:
(1) In the past, Tainan City's agricultural products suffered from stigma and misconceptions due to misinformation. Despite this challenge, we have remained proactive in supporting farmers with marketing their produce. Following the easing of the pandemic, the city government has taken decisive steps to lead the industry in food exhibitions and expand sales channels. These efforts have yielded promising results thus far. Moving forward, we are committed to promoting the marketing of our agricultural specialties, fresh fruits, and processed goods further. This endeavor aims to enhance awareness and understanding among foreign buyers and consumers regarding Tainan's distinctive agricultural products.
(2) Whether it's a bumper harvest or a poor season, having diversified sales channels for agricultural products is crucial. This ensures that farmers won't face shortages of outlets for their goods, which may result in damage to their rights and interests. In addition to actively promoting export sales, it is anticipated that the Agriculture Bureau can broaden domestic sales avenues. This could include collaborations with major department stores and farmers' associations and participation in holiday farmers' markets in northern Taiwan. The Agriculture Bureau is urged to persist in these efforts.