Response to Proposals for City Administration in September 2023

• Response to Proposals for City Administration (September 2023) (PDF 300.0KB)

1. Matters Related to City Administration

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2. Health, Medical Care, Welfare, and Parenting

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3. Community Development and Living Environment

No.	Response Date	Title	Contents	Response	Response Section
1	4th	About Road Expansion or Lane Creation	The intersection leading from the 7-Eleven at Wakabadai 1-chome towards Basha-michi has a long line of left-turning vehicles on weekends, causing traffic congestion for cars that want to go straight. I would like the lane in front of the 7-Eleven to be made into three lanes. If the central divider is removed, there will be enough width, and even if the central divider is kept and only the lanes are drawn, I believe the traffic congestion will be significantly alleviated.	We recognize that the intersection you pointed out experiences congestion for a certain period on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Additionally, regarding your request for the intersection to be expanded to three lanes, due to the structural limitations of the road, it is not possible to secure the width for three lanes simply by repainting the lane markings (white lines). Therefore, a large-scale improvement, including the removal of the central divider, will be necessary. We will continue to monitor the traffic conditions at the intersection and, if necessary, discuss it with the Tama Central Police Station and others.	Traffic Measures Section, Management Division
2	4th	About Road Signs and Curve Mirrors	I would like to request the installation of road signs and a curve mirror at the T-junction of the road that runs alongside Minamiyama Elementary School, which is one road over. This area is not only a school route, but there are no safety measures in place, so cars come down the hill at quite a speed. I have seen several instances where pedestrians and vehicles, as well as vehicles colliding with each other, could be in danger.	Upon checking the site, it was confirmed that there are corner cuts at the intersection, ensuring visibility. Therefore, at this time, the installation of a curve mirror is not being considered, but we will continue to pay attention to safety measures for the entire area. For the requirements for installing curve mirrors, please refer to the Inagi City Website under "Living & Procedures → Traffic Safety & Bicycles → Traffic Safety → Curve Mirrors". Additionally, the installation of road signs will be determined by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, but we will consider requests to the Tama Central Police Station while taking into account the progress of future land use.	Section Management Division
3	11th	About the traffic lights at Yanokuchi Intersection	At the Yanokuchi intersection, there are no push-button signal lights with sound features for visually impaired individuals in some areas. Could we request the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the National Police Agency to install them from Inagi City?	Upon checking the Yanokuchi intersection, it was confirmed that, as you pointed out, the audio push-button signal is installed only on one side. As a city, we will request the Tama Central Police Station to make the audio push-button signal available in all directions at this intersection to further ensure the safety of crossing pedestrians.	Traffic Measures Section, Management Division
4	25th	Collection and Recycling Methods for Plastic Waste	The separation and collection of plastic waste has begun, but how is the plastic waste collected in Inagi City specifically being recycled?	Starting from April 2023, the city has launched a bulk collection of container packaging plastics and product plastics as part of the national initiative for carbon neutrality by 2050. The collected plastic waste within the city is gathered at the transfer storage facility in Kokubunji City, where it is transferred to large vehicles for efficient transportation to intermediate processing facilities. After that, at the intermediate processing facility in Saitama Prefecture, impurities are removed, and the plastics are compressed and packaged for resource recovery. Finally, the recycling is carried out by recycling business operators also located in Saitama Prefecture. The plastics collected from everyone will be transformed into pallets and bags through a bid. The city aims to collect approximately 1,200 tons in the first year, expecting a CO2 reduction effect of 3,600 tons per year.	Living Environment Division Waste and Recycling Section

4. Education (Schools and Lifelong Learning)

No.	Response Date	Title	Contents	Response	Response Section
1	4th	About the After-School Children's Program	This year, snacks have started to be provided for those who wish, but I think the quantity is small and the pricing is high. Some children go to extracurricular activities after the After-School Children's Program and are active until after 7 PM. I would like to see an increase in the snacks available or to allow the bringing of sweets.	Regarding the provision of snacks for the After-School Children's Program, we ask for your understanding as Business Operators are making every effort possible to provide more substantial snacks within the set price amid rising prices. Additionally, we kindly ask that snacks not be brought into the program, except in unavoidable cases such as for children with allergies. The After-School Children's Program provides a place until 6 PM at the latest, so we ask that each family consider how to handle situations where returning home may be further delayed due to extracurricular activities.	Lifelong Learning Division Social Education / Community Center Section
2	4th	About the Tableware for School Lunch in Elementary Schools	I wonder why the dishes used for the elementary school lunch are always made of ceramic. I hear from the children that they break every day due to their carelessness. It's a waste of tax money. Please tell me why unbreakable dishes are not used.	The dishes used for school lunch have been introduced as individual dishes in all elementary and junior high schools since the 14th year of the Heisei era, in response to requests from parents or guardians. In introducing individual dishes, from the perspective of food education, we decided to use the current reinforced porcelain dishes, as they are made of materials similar to those used at home, are resistant to scratches, and can withstand the use of high-temperature dishwashers and sterilization storage machines. As you pointed out, they can break due to drops and other incidents, but we believe that fostering an awareness of treating dishes with care, considering that dishes can break, is also a part of food education, so we ask for your understanding.	School Lunch Division, First School Lunch Section
3	5th	Measures Against Heat Stroke in Elementary Schools	The school newsletter stated, "It is allowed to put sports drinks in water bottles starting from July." Why is the decision to allow this only from July, especially with the hot days continuing?	Regarding measures against heatstroke, since May of this year, the Inagi City Board of Education has notified all public Elementary and Junior High Schools in writing multiple times, and has provided guidance through meetings with principals, vice principals, heads of student guidance, and school nurses. In particular, we have instructed that proper hydration should be ensured before and after educational activities, and that an environment conducive to hydration should be prepared. In response to this opinion, we have received reports that the Board of Education has instructed each school to allow the contents of water bottles to include water, tea, sports drinks, and other necessary items without restrictions.	Guidance Division Chief
4	15th	Privacy Protection for Elementary School Enrollment Health Checkups and Internal Medicine Checkups	During the medical examination for school enrollment, the situation was such that boys and girls were mixed, with upper bodies exposed, no partitions, and visibility from other parents, making conversations with the doctor completely audible. I have heard that the same conditions apply to the medical examinations in elementary schools. Please ensure privacy during examinations for lower grade elementary school students as well.	First, we sincerely apologize for the inappropriate handling that occurred at some schools during the Health Checkup at the time of enrollment, which caused discomfort. Regarding the Health Checkup for school enrollment, the Inagi City Board of Education has instructed that, based on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology notification, there may be situations where undressing is necessary for the early detection of diseases, while also ensuring the protection of students' privacy and considering their developmental stages. Furthermore, in implementing health checkups at each school, it has been instructed to conduct them after sufficient consultation between the school and the school doctor, based on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology notification, and we have reiterated the importance of taking adequate measures to protect students' privacy to all schools.	Academic Affairs Division, Academic Affairs Section
5	27th	About the After-School Children's Program	Why can't we play in the schoolyard if we participate in the After-School Children's Program?	The After-School Children's Program aims to create a safe and secure environment for children after school, providing a space for their independent play and learning activities. It utilizes school facilities and is directly operated by staff. In the After-School Children's Program, we coordinate with school administrators, After-School Childcare Programs, and other users to make use of available classrooms, gymnasiums, and outdoor facilities such as the Friendship Square. Children engage in independent study, including homework, as well as activities like board games, crafts, table tennis, tag, and balloon volleyball. We promote interaction among children of different ages and provide opportunities for light sports, all while working to create a safe and secure environment.	Lifelong Learning Division Social Education / Community Center Section

5. Other Matters

No.	Response Date	Title	Contents	Response	Response Section
1	11th	About Ball Play Areas	It can be dangerous when children play ball under the Inagi Bridge, as they sometimes run out into the street. However, there are no other places for them to play ball, which is unfortunate. Therefore, I would like a net to be installed under the Inagi Bridge.	Inagi Ohashi Fureai Park is located on the south side of the square in front of the Oshitate Fureai Hall. At the request of the Neighborhood Association, a ball net was installed in the park in the first year of Reiwa. However, we ask that you refrain from playing with balls in a way that causes them to fly out of the park, such as playing soccer or baseball, or hitting the park facilities or bridges with balls. Additionally, the north side of the square in front of the Oshitate Fureai Hall is designated as a no-ball-play area for users of the Oshitate Fureai Hall parking space. Although there are signs prohibiting ball play, we have changed the content to make it more noticeable.	Greenery and Environment Division Greenery and Parks Section General Affairs and Contracts Division General Affairs Section
2	12th	About Inagi City Hospital Parking Lot	There used to be many parking spaces for wheelchair users, but now there are only two, and I am taking a taxi to my medical appointments. However, when my appointment is over and I am trying to go home, no taxis come at all, and there is a long line at the taxi stand, making me wait for a long time to get a ride. Ride-hailing apps cannot be used near the hospital, and when I called the taxi company, all they said was, "Please wait." It is very painful to wait for a taxi in this extreme heat when I am already unwell and going to the hospital. Is the hospital not patient-first? Please make improvements.	In response to COVID-19, we had partially closed parking for wheelchair users and others while implementing a fever outpatient clinic. However, given the transition of the classification under the Infectious Diseases Control Law from Category 2 to Category 5, and considering the current infection situation, we are currently reviewing the possibility of restoring the parking. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause in the meantime and appreciate your understanding. Additionally, we have confirmed with Business Operators regarding the use of taxis. They mentioned that when a call for a pickup is received, they dispatch requests to all vehicles at once. However, as reported recently, there is a serious shortage of drivers, and the vehicle utilization rate has dropped to about 50%. This often leads to delays, especially when weather conditions such as hot summer days occur. Since taxi dispatch apps vary by Business Operators, we recommend trying the taxi dispatch apps "GO" and "S.RIDE".	City Hospital Management Division General Affairs Section
3	22nd	About the Autumn Event	Pears and grapes, which are local specialties of Inagi City, are not easily available. I do visit sales locations, but as a citizen, I do not find it to be an enjoyable event. Therefore, could we organize a large direct sales event in the fall where local farmers bring and sell pears and grapes?	Inagi's pears and grapes are cultivated in various varieties by local farmers, who sell them while checking their growth conditions, and they have received great acclaim. However, the farmers in Inagi all operate on a small scale, and the harvested pears and grapes are mainly sold through home delivery with prior reservations, resulting in a limited quantity available at direct sales locations, which often sell out quickly. Therefore, we believe it is very difficult to hold a large autumn direct sales event with contributions from each farmer as suggested. Inagi City hosts an annual autumn event, the "I Town Inagi Citizen Festival," where municipalities from our Sister Cities and Friendship Cities, such as Ozora Town in Hokkaido, Nozawa Onsen Village in Nagano Prefecture, and Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture, also participate to sell local specialties. This year, it is scheduled to be held around the Comprehensive Gymnasium in Inagi City on October 21 and 22, so please join us.	Economic Affairs Section Agricultural Policy Division
4	25th	About Disaster Prevention Radio	I live near the disaster prevention administrative radio. A broadcast asking for the protection of children is aired at 2 PM on weekdays to coincide with elementary school students returning home, but the volume is so loud that it wakes up my child who is napping at home, and it's a problem. Could you please lower the volume a bit?	The monitoring broadcasts utilizing the disaster prevention administrative wireless system are conducted at 2 PM to request the cooperation of the community regarding the safety and security of children, especially elementary school students (particularly lower grades), amidst the ongoing crimes targeting children nationwide. The implementation of the monitoring broadcasts stemmed from discussions at the Inagi City Safety and Security Community Development Promotion Council held in June last year, where representatives from the Tama Central Police Station expressed that such measures have a certain effect on crime deterrence, and members of the council suggested that it would be beneficial for the safety and security of children. Additionally, there have been requests from the general public for these broadcasts to be conducted. This broadcast is set to a low volume on the broadcasting equipment, with the intention of ensuring that children are not involved in incidents or accidents, and we kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation regarding the broadcasts. Please note that the disaster prevention administrative wireless system in the city is divided into two groups for broadcasting to ensure that the content is easily heard and to prevent echoing. Therefore, in some areas, you may hear two broadcasts from both distant and nearby speakers, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation regarding this matter.	General Affairs and Contracts Division General Affairs Section