But it has everything to do with reducing crime in south Marysville, making residents and businesses there more comfortable. “Eye in the Sky” cameras will be placed in different areas in the waterfront area as part of the effort.

Marysville Police Chief Rick Smith announced the new South Of Downtown Area operation at the City Council meeting Sept. 14. Smith said after reducing crime drastically in previous years in the SODA area, last year was fairly flat. Therefore the new emphasis was born.

Citywide, crime was down about 5.5 percent. Car prowls were down 45 or 44 percent, burglaries down 118 or 34 percent, stolen cars down 49 or 22 percent and assaults down 50 or 14 percent.

Thefts are still a big problem, especially at the big box stores, he said. But progress is even being made there.

“We’ve been chasing theft the past five years, but now we’ve caught up,” Smith said.

Smith added that a tagger who hit up to 40 locations in the past year has been caught.

Parks Director Jim Ballew talked about the major development of housing and businesses in the Lakewood area. He said Dick’s Sporting Goods and Party City are scheduled to open in November, while housing is being phased in.

He said traffic already is a concern in the area, and that street projects will be done to help traffic flow.

Speaking of Lakewood, Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima said the city is “working with the community a little bit more” regarding the controversial Lakewood Master Plan. Many residents there showed opposition at a meeting a few months ago. Hirashima said the city hopes to complete the plan this fall, and major road improvements are a key part of it.

In other council news:

•Mayor Jon Nehring thanked about 40 people with the Latter-day Saints church for cleaning up the Mother Nature’s Window park. Council Member Camille Norton said, “It’s gorgeous in there. It’s a beautiful, remarkable property.”

•Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen said 750 vests and 800 helmets were given out at the Marysville Touch a Truck event Sept. 12 in about 1 1/2 hours. He also said at a supervisor meeting Sept. 14 they learned about teamwork and customer service. “It had a good vibe to it,” he said.

•Ballew said a fee schedule has been made for the Opera House. “It’s a little on the soft side, but we want to get business and keep it,” he said.

•Hirashima talked about working with neighborhoods on community clean up and improvement projects. She said she would like to start a mini grant program to encourage more of those things to happen.