City Councilman Jeff Vaughan was confused why the new law was needed, since signs already are posted saying it is illegal to shoot off fireworks in parks.

Parks director Jim Ballew said while it is park policy, the city had no law.

“This gives it more teeth,” he said.

Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima said the new law will make it easier for police to issue citations.

Another issue was police actually had to see someone set off fireworks to cite them. Now, someone just has to be in possession of fireworks.

Even though parks close at dusk, and fireworks were prohibited, the city has had problems for years with people breaking those policies.

The new law says fireworks endanger public safety and property, creating a fire hazard and risk of injury. The practice also creates public expense, with the city having to clean up fireworks, alcohol products and other debris.

The council and department heads also talked about the Marysville Strawberry Festival at the meeting.

Mayor Jon Nehring thanked all of the Maryfest volunteers who put on the show.

Police Chief Rick Smith praised the traffic flow after the Grand Parade and fireworks. He also said someone was shot in the arm at a party afterward, but he’s being “less than cooperative.” He mentioned the bicycle patrols have started up for the summer, which was evident at the parade.

Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen said people were glad the city painted strawberries in the streets in town.

Ballew said most people followed the new law, not putting lawn chairs out on State Avenue until after 5 p.m. the Friday before the parade.

“Two people tested us,” he said. “It was cat and mouse.”

Nielsen added that people were still picking up confiscated chairs from the PUD June 22.

Council Member Stephen Muller said he heard complaints that money was spent on signs telling people not to put up chairs. But Ballew said it was worth it because of the potential liability and the labor costs to PUD and police. He also thanked the Grove Church for cleanup after the parade, saving the city funds.

During the public comment period, Charles Graves complained about a drug house in his neighborhood.

“The image it is portraying to our youth is that it is OK,” he said. “This needs to be brought to an end.”

He talked about a murder, a house break-in and a police shootout in the neighborhood, all within six years. Graves said he goes up to buyers and stands by their cars.

“I do not go away,” he said, adding they often curse at him.

Graves said he contacted the homeowner, and the renters are supposed to move out. But he doesn’t want it to be someone else’s problem. He wants it fixed.

Graves also said he wants a speed bump on his street and the corners painted so people won’t park there.

Nielsen said it’s not necessary to paint every illegal parking spot. It would take too much time and money for staff.

Smith said his department will start citing violators to fix that problem.

During the open comment period for department heads, Smith said police are trying a different tactic in their grant request to the Tulalip Tribes. MPD has not received gaming impact funding for two years. So this year, MPD tied crime statistics to Tulalip. It found that 70 percent of people arrested by MPD at Tulalip were connected to gaming establishments.

Nielsen reminded folks to stay hydrated this weekend as temperatures reach 90 degrees.

“We’re not used to it,” he said, as Nehring joked the PUD director is also the city’s health officer.

Nielsen said his maintenance workers will drink electrolytes and get some shade. He also said they are being careful when mowing to watch for rocks so they don’t spark any fires in the dry grass.

When asked by Muller why some grass was mowed in the Sunnyside Boulevard wetlands area, Nielsen said it’s mitigation for the Qwuloolt project. Later, that portion will be tilled. The tribe plans to breach the dikes in late August.

In other council news:

•The city will be hiring a new janitorial firm, as the previous one gave 30-days notice. Nielsen said the city had outgrown the company.

•The new Farmer’s Market will open with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27.

•Leroy Erxleban was named the city’s Volunteer of the Month. He drives hundreds of miles each month at his own expense taking cancer patients to appointments.

•Officer Jason Morton was presented with his five-year pin as a city employee.

•The council allowed the Greater Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce to have a carnival at Allen Creek Elementary School July 9-12.

•The city will piggyback with Redmond and Kirkland to ease the process and save money in purchasing some items.

•The city will sign a pact to have five prisoners each day in the south King County Jail. The pact will save the city about $265 a day. The city is using that facility because the Snohomish County Jail in Everett is full.