SeaTac council members rejected a proposal for funding to staff an aid car at all times when they passed the city's 2007 budget on Dec. 12,

Councilman Joe Brennan proposed the budget amendment, which would have added three firefighters to the SeaTac department. It was voted down 5-2.

Brennan and Councilwoman Terry Anderson voted for the amendment.

Mayor Gene Fisher, Deputy Mayor Ralph Shape and Councilmen Tony Anderson, Chris Wythe and Don DeHan voted against.

In a subsequent vote, Brennan and Terry Anderson voted against adopting the budget.

It was the first time both lawmakers, who have served on the council since the city's incorporation 16 years ago, had voted against a final budget.

Fisher, Shape, Tony Anderson, Wythe and DeHan voted for the new spending plan.

The budget will fund replacement of the McMicken Heights fire station, improvements at Valley Ridge Park, addition of a community recreation room at the new Bow Lake Elementary and placement of a concert band shell over the Angle Lake Park stage.

Brennan labeled the expanded fire station a "palace" and noted it would contain more beds than firefighters assigned to it.

"Putting an aid car on the road is more important than building a building," he declared.

DeHan countered that city fire engines provide emergency medical services. He also said the amendment would add $261,000 to the budget.

Terry Anderson said there are many areas in SeaTac that a fire engine cannot enter or exit.

"It is a matter of life and death," he added. "I think it is a necessity."

Under the approved budget, the city expects to spend $59.4 million with revenues of $48.3 million and a reserve balance of $50.6 million.

In the general operating budget, revenues are expected to be $26 million and expenses $25.9 million.

On Nov. 30, lawmakers set the city's property tax rate for next year at $2.61 per $1,000 of assessed value. That is down from $2.71 in 2006.

In other business, lawmakers also decided against authorizing King County Elections to publish a voters guide for the special Feb. 6 election on SeaTac's fireworks ban.

DeHan urged city officials to inform voters through mailings or the city's newsletter. The city could also place information on its government access television channel.

Fisher said he favored a voters pamphlet statement.

"We have an obligation to let the citizens know what they are voting on," Fisher declared.

Wythe and Fisher voted for a voters pamphlet while Tony Anderson, Terry Anderson, Shape, Brennan and DeHan voted against it.

Voters will decide on a new fireworks ordinance placed on the ballot through a petition drive.

The petition contained valid signatures from 1,626 SeaTac registered voters. City manager Craig Ward has said the petition drive was sponsored by fireworks businesses.

Lawmakers unanimously rejected the proposed ordinance on Oct. 10, setting up the election.

The proposed law would allow the discharge of fireworks in the city from July 3 through July 5 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 1 with time restrictions.

This year's Independence Day weekend was the first such holiday period that SeaTac's total ban was in effect.

If the new ordinance passes, it will be less restrictive than SeaTac's previous fireworks law. Only the voters could amend or repeal the new law.

Council members also approved action plans for areas surrounding two future light-rail stations.

The South 154th Station will be within Tukwila's city limits, but just across International Boulevard and state Route 518 from SeaTac.

The SeaTac city center/Sea-Tac Airport station will be at International Boulevard and South 176th Street.

According to planning director Steve Butler, plans call for pedestrian friendly, transit friendly areas with a mix of residential and retail uses.

The South 154th Street plan emphasizes shorter buildings near residential areas in Riverton Heights progressing eastward to taller buildings near the light-rail station on the boulevard.

Lawmakers extended interim development standards in the area. Butler said his staff would propose permanent standards early next year.

A planned Starbucks at South 154th and International Boulevard will not be affected by the interim standards, he added.

Butler's staff deleted references to a pedestrian connection to Bow Lake in the city center/airport station plan after objections from businesses south of 176th Street.