MARYSVILLE – Leslie Burnett of police records received the Mayor’s Employee Excellence Award at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Mayor Jon Nehring said she helps involve the city in many fundraisers to provide for unmet needs in the community, such as Adopt-A-Family, Food for Thought and animal shelters.

In other meeting news:

•Parks director Jim Ballew said the Spray Park opened to a “bleak crowd” Saturday due to bad weather, but was packed the next day when it was nice. He also said there is competition now as Arlington opened its Splash Pad. He said Maryfest has purchased new banners for the Marysville Strawberry Festival, which will be hung soon around town. And, a new marquee will be installed Thursday at the Marysville Opera House.

•Planning director Dave Koenig said everything is coming together with the Arlington Marysville Manufacturing Industrial Center, and there is marketing opportunity in California thanks to new Paine Field flights. Nehring said Boeing is excited about the MIC because its supply chain would be closer to home.

•The council OK’d purchasing an air sweeper for almost $308,000.

•City Councilman Jeff Vaughan said he went kayaking near the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge recently and feels the Qwuloolt Estuary is better and has great potential to bring tourists here.

•Councilman Tom King said the Marysville Strawberry Festival float won the Mayor’s Award at a recent parade in New Westminster, Canada.