A day after Burien council members discussed a staff recommendation to annex south North Highline, SeaTac lawmakers voted to get out of the annexation business.

The action removed the potential annexation area from the city's comprehensive plan.

SeaTac council members also directed city staffers on April 22 not to participate in mediation efforts between Burien, Seattle, Tukwila and King County on annexation.

SeaTac lawmakers voted last year to study annexing the Boulevard Park area. They limited their focus to an area between Des Moines Memorial Drive South and the Tukwila city limits from South 128th Street to South 116th Street.

The city hired Burien's consultant, Berke and Associates, who told them SeaTac could face a million-dollar deficit if it added Boulevard Park.

Burien City Manager Mike Martin's proposal includes Boulevard Park and the area around Rainier Golf and Country Club on Des Moines Drive.

Martin said he would withdraw Boulevard Park from Burien's potential annexation area if SeaTac indicated it was interested in annexing it.

At the April 22 SeaTac council meeting, Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher quipped, "We should cut our losses while we are behind."

Councilman Tony Anderson declared, "We are doing a disservice to Burien by not telling them we are not interested.

"Our citizens don't want it, and the majority of the council is against it."

Mayor Ralph Shape argued, "It would do no harm to remain part of the mediation process."

Asked whether SeaTac should favor annexation by Burien or Seattle, planning director Steve Butler replied, "The issue gets very complicated, very quickly."

His "rough view" is that Burien annexation would be more beneficial for SeaTac's police costs but Seattle annexation would be better for the city's fire services costs.

"There is not a clear choice at this point," Butler added.

SeaTac City Manager Craig Ward noted SeaTac, Burien and North Highline share a King County Sheriff's Office precinct.

If North Highline is absorbed into Seattle, SeaTac and Burien would have to divide the police precinct costs, he said.

SeaTac has its own fire department. Separate King County fire districts serve Burien and North Highline.

While SeaTac exited the annexation process last week, lawmakers committed the city to becoming a rental-housing landlord.

Council members voted 3-2 to rent out an 870 square-foot house at 3261 S. 152nd Street.

The city bought the single-family residence for $276,000. Future plans include using the parcel as open space, parking or street right-of-way.

But in the short term, the city could rent out the house or demolish it, Assistant City Manager Tina Rogers told council members.

Fisher said he has "never made a dime" on rental properties he has owned.

"You don't understand what it's like," Fisher warned his colleagues.

But Anderson and Councilwoman Mia Gregerson said they had had positive experiences as landlords.

A tour revealed the residence is a "fairly nice house with a huge backyard," according to Shape.

"Somebody would be very gratified to rent it," Shape added.

Rogers suggested the city could rent it out and if it did not work out, could then demolish the house.

Shape, Gregerson, Tony Anderson and Chris Wythe voted in favor of renting the house while Fisher and Terry Anderson opposed it. Councilman Joe Brennan was absent.