○Challenges in Municipality Operation and Decision Making [1]

     If a resident in a community proposes the construction of a baseball field, it is predicted that others will also come forward with requests to build a soccer field, a racing circuit, a golf course, and so on. Furthermore, dissatisfaction may arise when comparing with neighboring communities that have already built basketball courts, questioning why their own community has not done the same. There may also be proposals for the construction of large-scale research facilities. The key point here is to establish common priorities shared worldwide.

    ① Humans have a responsibility to maintain the natural environment on the Earth's surface as close to 100% as possible. If the environmental preservation rate drops to 80% or 50%, ecosystems will change, weather patterns will be affected, and ultimately, it will have adverse effects on humans.

    Therefore, it is essential to have a basic principle where multi-purpose facilities can be constructed within certain limits, while striving to minimize environmental destruction in other areas. If there is a need for numerous facility constructions, consideration should be given to underground construction. Underground facilities impose lower burdens on the natural environment compared to above-ground structures. Measures should also be taken to prevent ground subsidence in those areas. Additionally, it is fundamental not to construct facilities that are taller than the surrounding trees.

    For facilities that cannot be built underground, discussions should be held with multiple neighboring municipalities. A comprehensive list of all requested facilities should be compiled, and the distribution of these facilities among different municipalities should be considered. At the same time, it is important to anticipate that if one facility is constructed, there will be further demands for additional facilities in the future, and accordingly, to devise response strategies. In the case of requests for the construction of large-scale sports facilities above ground, such as golf courses, soccer fields, and baseball fields, a significant amount of space is required. If there is an existing plaza without trees in the municipality, construction of such facilities would be relatively straightforward. However, if the proposed location has dense tree cover, discussions should be held to determine whether it is appropriate to clear the trees for construction. If one municipality permits this, it may set a precedent for the mass deforestation worldwide. Therefore, it is advisable to consider constructing large-scale facilities within a 10 km range from the coastal areas to the inland regions. The ultimate responsibility for making these decisions lies with the mayor.