Response to Proposals for City Administration in October 2024

The maintenance and management of parks in the city is carried out by the designated management organization, the Inagi Green Wellness Foundation.

Regarding the grass cutting you mentioned, we are implementing it 2 to 4 times a year, determining the timing based on the characteristics of each park. However, due to the recent extreme heat, the growth of weeds has accelerated, and we are struggling with weed removal.

In addition, we conduct regular cleaning and patrol the parks daily, striving for proper maintenance and management of the parks.

In addition, regarding Yoshikata Park, we are currently working on its development as the city's first inclusive park, aiming for its opening in the 9th year of the Reiwa era.

We will continue to strive for the maintenance and management of parks where citizens can relax and enjoy.

The "Kamiyato Ohashi Minami" bus stop you requested connects Wakabadai Station and Inagi Station. On weekdays, there are 45 buses operating between 6 AM and 10 PM, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, there are 30 buses operating between 7 AM and 10 PM.

The current situation surrounding the bus operators is that, as the number of drivers decreases, in line with work style reforms, the "Standards for Improving Working Hours of Motor Vehicle Operators," commonly known as the Improvement Standards Notification, will be enforced on April 1, 2024. To comply with the reduction of drivers' working hours and the securing of break times as stipulated by the revised standards, it has become impossible to maintain the current number of drivers. Therefore, on March 16, 2024, a reduction in some bus schedules has been implemented within Inagi City. Similarly, due to the shortage of drivers for the i-bus, and since the i-bus is intended to complement the operations of regular buses, it is believed that operating on this route where regular buses are running will be difficult.

Additionally, for your reference, there is a bus stop at "Kengai" on Tsurukawa Street, in addition to the "Kamiyato Ohashi Minami" bus stop. This bus stop is served by the Odakyu bus heading to Kakio Station North Exit, which also passes through Wakabadai Station, as well as the iBus C course. The frequency of buses at this stop is as follows: Odakyu buses operate 12 times on weekdays from 6 AM to 8 PM, 11 times on Saturdays from 6 AM to 8 PM, and 9 times on Sundays and holidays. The iBus C course operates 10 times on weekdays from 6 AM to 8 PM, and 8 times on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 7 AM to 7 PM. We hope you will consider using this option as well.

In the Land Readjustment Project area being promoted by the Minamiyama Eastern District Land Readjustment Association, we are planning seven parks. However, due to the recent social situation, the association is reviewing the construction schedule, and currently, there are delays in the park development by the association.

We recognize that there are few places to play in the area, as you pointed out. We are coordinating with the association to promptly develop parks, and we have installed playground equipment on the west side of Okubatan-yato Park under the city's order, which was temporarily reopened again in March this year. Furthermore, we are considering expanding the space for ball games within this fiscal year.

Regarding other parks, there are some that are not being developed due to the progress of construction work or situations where they must be used as parking for construction-related vehicles. However, we will continue to work in collaboration with the city and the association to ensure that they can be used by the local community as soon as possible.

Regarding the square in front of the south exit of Inagi Station, taking into account the urban infrastructure development of the ongoing Land Readjustment Project in the southeastern area of Nanzan and the surrounding Community Development initiatives such as the "TOKYO GIANTS TOWN" concept, we have started improvement works this fiscal year to increase the number of boarding and waiting areas for buses and taxis, aiming to enhance the safety and convenience for station users and citizens.

In this construction, we plan to widen the roadway due to the addition of boarding and waiting areas for buses and taxis, install a canopy between the bus stop and the station building, and change the stairs to a slope to ensure barrier-free access, thereby securing a good and safe walking space. Unfortunately, this will necessitate the removal of cherry trees. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we hope you can enjoy the cherry blossoms along the nearby Misawa River.

I live in Nagamine, but since March, the bus service has been significantly reduced, making it very inconvenient. I use Wakabadai Station, but since the buses stop running at 9 PM, I often have to walk home. I would like to see an increase in bus services and the revival of late-night buses from Inagi Station, but if that's not possible, please take urgent measures like the following.

1. I would like the bus fare from Inagi Station to Nagamine to be set at 200 yen, the same as the fare from Wakabadai Station.
2. After the bus ends, I have to walk home, but since Nagamine is particularly dark, I would like more streetlights to be added.
3. I would like a shared taxi to operate to Nagamine at the same fare as the last bus.

The city has been informed by the bus operators that the implementation of the timetable revision in March 2024 was necessary due to a chronic shortage of drivers, which is attributed to factors such as the working environment and wages of drivers, making it difficult to secure the required number of drivers even when recruiting. Additionally, it is necessary to comply with the "Standards for Improving the Working Hours of Motor Vehicle Operators," commonly known as the "Improvement Standards Notification," which applies to bus drivers starting from April 2024. Therefore, in order to maintain bus services, it has become necessary to adjust the number of bus services according to the availability of drivers, not just for this route. Regarding the request for shared taxis after the last bus, we conveyed the information to the licensed route bus operators under the Road Transport Law.

In addition, regarding the fares for the Odakyu Bus and Keio Bus routes connecting Wakabadai Station and Inagi Station, these are approved fares as a distance-based fare (Buso area fare zone) applied by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, based on the transportation costs submitted by the bus operators. Therefore, the fares vary depending on the distance of the section used.

For your reference, there are two final buses heading towards Nagamine from Inagi Station, both on weekdays and weekends, in the 10 PM hour, so please consider using those buses as well.

In addition, regarding the installation of streetlights in the Nagamine District, at that time, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (now: UR Urban Development Corporation) established the community development concept as "a town where stars can be seen," featuring a calm streetscape with consideration for streetlights and landscape design. We have also received requests to prioritize these streetscapes and landscapes. Based on the opinions gathered from the Neighborhood Association Federation and school route inspections, we will consider the necessity of installing streetlights.

We have received your feedback regarding the large cedar tree planted in Yanokuchi Mitaya Children's Park. As you pointed out, the large branches have grown out into neighboring properties, and there is a possibility of being affected by typhoons and other factors. Therefore, we are planning to cut it down and are coordinating the timing of the implementation. Additionally, we also plan to carry out severe pruning of dead branches and other trees within the park.

We will continue to strive for the maintenance and management of a safe and secure park, including activities such as the removal and pruning of trees within the park.

Regarding the Kamiyato Shinsui Park parking lot, we have shared inquiries from local residents and others with the designated manager, the Sakahama Neighborhood Association. Additionally, we have posted signs to encourage quiet use of the parking lot after 10 PM and have installed security cameras. However, taking into account the opinions of local residents and from the perspective of proper use of the parking lot, we plan to implement a fee starting from the 7th year of Reiwa.

We will continue to strive for the maintenance and management of the park to ensure a comfortable environment for both local residents and park users.

Regarding your comments, we have promptly shared the information with the relevant departments of the city. In order for everyone to use the library more safely and securely, we would like to consider the suggestions you provided as future topics for discussion.

We apologize for the inconvenience, but when using the Third Library, please use the slope on the front side of the Third Cultural Center (Third Community Center), which is a bit of a distance away, and enter through the back entrance of the library after passing through the facility. Alternatively, you can enter from the north entrance of the Third Cultural Center, which has no elevation difference. There is a doorbell in front of the door at this entrance, so if you need assistance with opening or closing the door, please press the doorbell, and a staff member will come to help you. We appreciate your cooperation.

The Inagi Newsletter serves as the backbone of city administration information dissemination, distributed to every household in the city. Additionally, it has been made available at six stations, post offices, and public facilities in the city for anyone to view. However, while the use of electronic versions of the newsletter on smartphones and computers has been increasing, the costs of publishing the newsletter have risen year by year due to recent surges in raw material prices. In this context, the city started distributing city announcements via an app from September 2022 and has been actively promoting the use of the electronic version of the newsletter. Therefore, a review of the distribution volume of the Inagi Newsletter has been conducted, and from April 2023, distribution at the six stations and post offices will be discontinued, while it will continue to be available for viewing at public facilities.

Additionally, for those who wish, we will distribute individually, although there is a limited number of copies, so please let us know.

Please see below for information about the electronic version of the public relations.

Regarding your inquiry about the "expansion of the share cycle stations," a basic agreement has been concluded between the city and the operating business operator, Open Street Co., Ltd., and we are working together in cooperation.

As for the recent situation in the Nagamine District, we have been increasing the number of racks. In August of Reiwa 6, we added 2 racks to the Comprehensive Gymnasium of Inagi City, bringing the total to 6. In September of Reiwa 6, we added 5 racks to the Inagi Nagamine Sports Square, increasing the total to 19, and we expanded the number of racks at Inagi Central Park (Kujira Bridge) by adding 6, bringing the total to 15.

The locations for the shared bicycle stations are determined by considering factors such as profitability, based on public land provided by the city and private land secured through negotiations by the operating business operators.

We will continue to discuss with Open Street Co., Ltd. to increase the number of shared bicycle stations in the city, starting with the Nagamine District.