PATTAYA: Pattaya City Council held a tightly focused ordinary session on Tuesday, September 29th, as officials moved to resolve long-standing problems over municipal boundaries, piers, traffic congestion and basic utilities, saying the work is designed at raising living standards and supporting the city’s growth.
The fifth meeting of the first ordinary session of 2026 opened at 1:30 p.m. at the Taksin Meeting Room in Pattaya City Hall. Council President Paiwan Aromchuen presided. Mayor Poramese Ngampichet attended with deputy mayors Manoch Nongyai and Damrongkiat Pinijkarn, advisers, secretaries, council members and department heads. City Clerk Kiattisak Sriwongchai served as council secretary.
Council members used question time to press the administration on issues that residents have raised repeatedly.
On overlapping boundaries with neighboring local governments, Zone 2 councilor Surin Yimyai asked how the city would settle the lines. Mayor Poramese said Pattaya had already installed 44 boundary signs on 22 roads in fiscal year 2020. Thirty-six signs remain usable; the rest will be repaired first. Officials will also survey overlapping areas for extra signs. Residents in disputed zones have been invited to file petitions. A working group set up in 2025, led by the civil registration office, is coordinating with nearby municipalities. The city has written to the Banglamung district chief seeking a joint meeting to draw clearer lines and reduce confusion for residents.
Zone 4 councilor Methakrit Soonthons asked about upgrades at Bali Hai Pier, a busy tourist gateway that he said could become another city landmark if the landscape were improved. The mayor said the roof and walkway had already been renovated and have been in use for two years. Further work on storm-damaged berths and mooring areas is planned after the rainy season. On September 28th the city ordered the Public Works Office and Legal Affairs group to post notices requiring the removal of structures, vehicles, boats and equipment from public land around the Waterfront Building by October 1st, working with Bang Lamung district so the area can be used as public space. The Waterfront building itself remains under legal review by the Department of Land to determine its future status.
Deputy Mayor Manoch answered Zone 3 councilor Sannychai Phonluk-in on repairs to the Koh Larn pontoon and island facilities. Temporary repairs have restored basic use. Permanent work is expected to take about seven days once weather allows. After October 1st the city will seek a contractor under a 3 million baht budget to bring the pier up to the standard of Bali Hai. On traffic in South Pattaya Soi 1 (old Vientiane), the city has already held public hearings. One widely supported idea is a one-way traffic system to ease congestion.
Zone 3 councilor Jirawat Plukjai asked about expanding tap-water service and restoring road surfaces. The mayor said 21 projects have been funded for the Provincial Waterworks Authority. The city is closely monitoring both construction and road reinstatement so residents can install meters without delay. Progress is being publicized and reported at follow-up meetings on the large-city electricity system until those works are finished.
Zone 3 councilor Wasant Sukkee asked about short- and long-term traffic management. Mayor Poramese said Pattaya is using Smart City tools through its traffic and security control center, including intelligent traffic lights and more than 600 CCTV cameras. Variable-message signs and license-plate recognition systems are being prepared to monitor congestion and suggest alternate routes. Longer-term mass-transit plans covering green, red and purple lines remain in the environmental impact assessment stage. If the EIA is approved, public hearings will follow before any proposal goes to the Cabinet and before funding or private partners are sought.
Zone 1 councilor Phasakorn Yusomboon asked about Ban Sukhawadee and the Kratingslai beach-erosion project. Deputy Mayor Manoch said demolition of structures encroaching on public land at Ban Sukhawadee is in its final stage; Building B is awaiting a court order. Procurement of materials for the Kratingslai erosion barrier is expected to start in early October.
Zone 1 councilor Supharoek Chomphunuch asked how the city would improve school buildings and sanitation at 11 municipal schools, including creative landscaping and painting. The mayor said each school has been given up to 200,000 baht to repair materials and equipment. Larger projects can be submitted to the Education Office for extra funding.
Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat answered Zone 3 councilor Banjong Banthunprayuk on tourism. He said the city is cracking down on unofficial stall-space sales at the upcoming International Fireworks Festival. He also outlined year-end and early-2027 events, including Tomorrowland, the Pattaya Jazz Festival, the International Fireworks Festival, Pattaya Countdown, the Naklua food-walking event, Chinese New Year and the Pattaya Music Festival, plus domestic and overseas roadshows.
Mayor Poramese repeated that Pattaya has no policy allowing stall “locks” to be sold or transferred. Anyone caught doing so will be barred from future city festivals so that local operators receive fair access.
Officials said the session showed the council and administration intend to keep pressure on boundary disputes, waterfront improvements, traffic relief and everyday public services as Pattaya continues to grow.