Fireworks will explode over Angle Lake this Fourth of July, partially funded by a $10,000 donation from the city of SeaTac.
SeaTac lawmakers voted 5-2 on April 12 to approve the controversial contribution. Councilman Rick Forschler and Councilwoman Pam Fernald voted against the donation to the Angle Lake Shore Club, which puts on the display. About $7,000 is also being raised from private donations.
Lawmakers made it clear that this is the last year the city will contribute. Several council members urged the club in future years to seek private donations for the entire cost.
Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher said the contribution had already been earmarked in the budget for this year. The International Festival parade had previously been cancelled to free up money in the budget for the fireworks, according to city officials. City Manager Todd Cutts noted the festival will go on without the parade.
Councilman Tony Anderson said the council began approving the fireworks subsidy several years ago after discharging of private fireworks was banned in SeaTac. He added that public displays with permits are allowed.
Anderson also dismissed concerns that the contribution favored Angle Lake residents over other areas of the city.
"I don't like this being portrayed as neighborhood versus neighborhood," Anderson declared. "I lived in McMicken Heights and loved the fireworks. Just because I've moved 30 blocks to the south (to the Angle Lake neighborhood) doesn't mean I don't represent the whole city."
During public comments, a resident complained that only one-twentieth of the city could attend the fireworks display.
Angle Lake Park is left open Independence Day evening to allow the public to view the fireworks. The resident noted the park only has 65 parking spaces while the city's population is 25,000.
Forschler asked assistant city attorney Mark Johnsen whether it would be a conflict of interest for council members who are shore club members to vote on the appropriation.
"No council member is a current officer of the Angle Lake Shore Club," Johnsen replied. "Just being a member is not a conflict of interest."
Four out of the seven council members live in the Angle Lake area.
Fernald said she opposed the contribution because she thought the display should be privately funded. The contribution also would set a precedent for other groups to request fireworks display funding, according to Fernald.
In other business, council members approved a new employment contract for Cutts that removes the "interim" label from his city manager title.
City officials expect a citizen initiative will qualify for the fall ballot. The initiative calls for a change in SeaTac city government from a city manager form to one headed by an elected mayor. A similar proposition failed by 9 votes previously.
If the proposition were approved, Cutts would be out of a job unless the newly elected mayor hires him as city administrator.
Burien, Des Moines and Normandy Park have city managers while Tukwila employs a city administrator and elected mayor.
Under the new contract, if the proposition passes and the newly elected mayor appoints Cutts as city administrator, Cutts will forfeit six months in severance pay if he declines the job.
The contract calls for Cutts to be paid $144,000 per year as city manager.
Council members also approved a reorganization plan for the city's merged community and economic development department. Council members Ralph Shape and Mia Gregerson voted against the plan.