Logo courtesy of the City of Marysville

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Marysville City Council approved several projects and initiatives during its July 21 meeting, including a major sewer relocation contract, a new vegetation management ordinance and a federal grant application to strengthen domestic violence investigations.

The council approved a $1,064,536 contract with Newland Entities Inc. to relocate the city's sewer mainline around the low area of the Binney Junction project on State Route 70 at B Street under the Caltrans Utility Agreement.

The utilities are being relocated at state expense because they are within the Caltrans right-of-way under prior rights. The city will initially pay for the work and will be reimbursed by Caltrans.

The project's total budgeted construction cost is $1,330,670, which includes construction, management and inspection, administration and contingency costs. The project is ready to begin following council approval.

Council members also approved an ordinance allowing goats or sheep to graze on city-owned green spaces as a method of vegetation management.

Although prescribed grazing costs more than mastication or controlled burns, City Manager Jim Schaad said it provides another option for reducing fire hazards and maintaining access to city property.

The ordinance also allows tenants of city-owned properties around the levee to use grazing as a vegetation management tool.

The council also approved submitting a grant application through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women. The grant program supports efforts to improve local criminal justice responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

The Marysville Police Department is requesting $695,500 to expand investigative resources and improve technology. The proposal includes implementing a new computer-aided dispatch and records management system to improve information sharing with regional, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

If awarded, the grant also would fund a detective dedicated to investigating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking cases. The detective also would work with the Marysville Joint Unified School District to provide age-appropriate education and prevention programs on dating violence, healthy relationships, stalking awareness and available victim resources.

The council also conducted its annual public hearings to place delinquent refuse disposal and sewer accounts on the county property tax roll for collection.

Property owners with overdue accounts received notice before the hearing. One resident told the council that a vacant home held in a family trust should not have been charged sewer fees. City staff said they will review the account and meet with the resident to discuss the issue.

The council approved adding the delinquent accounts to the tax roll.

The Aug. 4 Marysville City Council meeting has been canceled. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18.