MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Marysville City Council received an update on community development efforts and discussed potential changes to the city’s smoking ordinance during its March 17 meeting.

Community and Economic Development Director Dan Flores told council members that long-discussed plans are now taking shape, describing a shift from ideas to measurable progress.

“For years, many things that we talked about in Marysville were just ideas, or plans, or concepts,” Flores said. “What’s different today is that more of those things are becoming visible, they’re becoming measurable and they’re becoming real.”

Flores said recent council actions have helped drive that progress, contributing to increased private investment and a changing perception of the city. Over the past three years, Marysville has seen more than $52 million in private investment, including more than $17 million in the past year.

He said development activity is increasing across multiple sectors, including hospitality, retail, housing, healthcare and commercial improvements. In that same three-year period, the city issued 282 new business licenses.

Flores said the city’s strategy has focused on creating conditions that encourage investment by reducing barriers, supporting local businesses, attracting new ones and building strong partnerships.

He also pointed to the completion of the city’s General Plan, which he said will guide long-term growth.

“It’s growth that’s being guided by leadership,” Flores said.

Infrastructure improvements to streets and facilities are also part of that effort, signaling that the city is preparing for future development.

The council also reviewed possible updates to Marysville’s municipal code regulating smoking and tobacco use. Current regulations were adopted in 1986 and last amended in 1993.

City staff proposed expanding smoke-free areas to include parks and recreational facilities, adding electronic smoking devices and cannabis to the ordinance, prohibiting smoking at city-sponsored events and establishing buffer zones near public areas.

City Manager Jim Schaad said enforcement would focus primarily on education and voluntary compliance, with police involvement used selectively.

Councilmember Stuart Gilchrist suggested enforcement should be complaint-driven or applied in cases involving a nuisance.

Councilmember Brad Hudson raised concerns about personal freedoms and potential impacts on businesses, particularly those that serve alcohol.

Mayor Chris Branscum said he understood both the public health concerns and the potential effects on businesses, adding that reviewing state regulations would help guide future decisions.

During public comment, one speaker urged stronger protections, saying children should not be exposed to secondhand smoke in public spaces.

Staff will return with a revised proposal at a future meeting, with a possible vote expected in April.

Separately, the council voted 4-0, with Vice Mayor Bruce Buttacavoli absent, to move forward with an application for $3.3 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding. If awarded, the funds would support the East Marysville Streets Rehabilitation Project.

The April 7 council meeting has been recessed. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 21.