MARYSVILLE – The City Council approved the Arlington-Marysville Manufacturing Industrial Center sub-area plan Monday.

The only objection came from audience member Reid Shockey, an environmental engineer. He represents owners of 127 acres within the MIC who are concerned about stormwater runoff.

Planning director Dave Koenig said later that the plan sets the framework for the center, but during development other options can be considered with individual property owners. He added that now that both Arlington and Marysville have approved the plan it will go to the Puget Sound Regional Council for official designation, hopefully in June.

Also at the meeting:

•Police Chief Rick Smith said crime was down another 7.5 percent last year and has dropped 28 percent since 2014. Burglaries are down 52 percent from 465 in 2013 to 223 last year. Residential burglaries have dropped 60 percent, from 376 to 150. That occurred “in spite of growth,” he added. He did say assaults are up mostly due to domestic violence so that will be an area of focus.

•Koenig said there were $100 million in building permits last year. There were 353 new dwellings, with 246 of those single-family units or duplexes. Also, there were 489 new business licenses.

•Mayor Jon Nehring noted that at a recent meeting in Smokey Point attendees were impressed with how the embedded-social worker program has helped reduce problems with homeless in that area.

•The council OK’d a public hearing for Feb. 11 to discuss street and alley vacations to make way for the new civic campus.

•Public Works director Kevin Nielsen said the city has received a $600,000 grant to help improve intersections. He also said the city has been putting an anti-icing agent on roads on cold nights and asked everyone to “slow down.”

During the public comment period:

•Jodi Runyon of the school district talked about an “uptick in instances” regarding racial discrimination and said the district is cracking down on that. She asked for the council to get more involved with the schools. She mentioned committees being set up to deal with issues such as equity and school boundaries. •Parks director Jim Ballew said as holiday lights were taken down recently, the city is looking at ways to improve lighting next year – since such items are on sale now. Councilman Mark James said he’d like to see the lights on the water tower improved.

•Jodi Hiatt of Maryfest was there with the 10 candidates for senior royalty for this year’s Marysville Strawberry Festival. From Marysville Getchell there are seniors Chloe Braaten, Emma Burkett, Alexandria Gehrman and Jael Hudson, along with juniors Sequoia Alpine, Alexa Mendoza, Cassie Snyder and Lexie Walker. From Marysville-Pilchuck there are seniors Brionna Olson and Natalia Zieroth, along with junior Cecila Ramey. They talked to the council, which judged them on various criteria. Councilman Tom King later mentioned that progress is being made on the float as the first parade is in April.