Deputy Mayor Tai’s remarks:
1. The temperature has been fluctuating lately. I’d like to remind Tainan’s residents to keep warm and continue to mask up in public spaces. I ask the Bureau of Education, Social Affairs Bureau, and concerned departments to promote precautionary measures, especially for children and older adults, thus reducing the prevalence of communicable diseases.
2. The consumer price index has gradually risen over the years and has exceeded the 2% marker for the fifth time this year. I ask the Bureau of Economic Development and the consumer ombudsman to ramp up inspections. The Agriculture Bureau should also monitor the prices of produce and meat products to prevent stockpiling or price gouging. Concerned bureaus should pay particular attention to preventing such phenomena.
3. The City Council is currently reviewing the budget of all bureaus. When council members request bureaus to supply additional reference material, colleagues should submit such information to all council members rather than only the council member who made the request. I ask all bureaus to follow this suggestion. The Bureau of Civil Affairs should also oversee the exchange of documents.
4. The torrential rains in early August have led to significant agricultural and aquacultural losses. Now, the relief program is about to come to an end. I’d like to thank the hard work of all colleagues in the Agriculture Bureau and district offices. I also ask district offices that have not completed relevant work to do so as soon as possible.
5. The green ponkan and orange season is about to begin. I ask the Agriculture Bureau to continue monitoring the production and sales of green ponkan and oranges and formulate marketing plans to maintain stable production and sales and to ensure farmers’ income.
6. In addition to promotions organized by the Council of Agriculture, the Agriculture Bureau should also carry out promotional events for the Council of Agriculture’s new rice policy. The Agriculture Bureau should gain an in-depth understanding of how this policy affects farmers to ensure their income.
Announcements
1. The Public Works Bureau’s report on inventorying and reinforcing old bridges (refer to written sources for details)
Decision: Approved for reference filing
Deputy Mayor Tai’s remarks:
(1) The collapse of the Nanfang’ao Bridge two years ago sent shockwaves through society. I ask the Public Works Bureau to prioritize the reinforcement of bridges with structural damage and poor flood resistance. The Public Works Bureau must carry out this task with utmost diligence. Please perform regular inspections of old bridges and temporarily close them immediately upon finding security concerns. Please also accelerate reinforcement work. I ask the Public Works Bureau to ensure that relevant construction work is carried out on schedule.
(2) In response to the recent rise in commodity prices and the labor shortage, bureaus responsible for construction must remain extra vigilant. Reinforcement work should be accelerated, as delays are unacceptable. To ensure that construction tenders are carried out as smoothly as possible, please supervise the construction progress and refrain from the use of unconventional designs. If possible, projects that are underway should be completed before the flooding season.
2. The Cultural Affairs Bureau’s report on the 2021 Tainan Street Arts Festival (refer to written sources for details)
Decision: Approved for reference filing
Deputy Mayor Tai’s remarks:
(1) The 2019 Tainan Street Arts Festival was well-received by the public; many tourists were also fond of this event. I anticipate that this year’s festival will also be a success. As the pandemic gradually eases, Tainan’s tourism is also bouncing back. Please pay particular attention to local traffic conditions. I ask the Bureau of Transportation, Police Department, and Bureau of Civil Affairs to draw up plans to ease congestion and enhance communications and promotional work prior to the festival. This year’s festival has been expanded to include The Spring. Concerned departments should increase the number of volunteers to ensure smooth traffic and the success of the festival.
(2) Level 2 alert has been extended to November 29. The festival is set to take place between November 26 and November 28. Please adhere to COVID-19 protocols on the day of the event. All participants are required to wear a mask and clean their hands. Concerned bureaus should also maintain the cleanliness of public restrooms.