The sale and use of fireworks will continue to be allowed in the city of Maple Valley for at least another year.

The City Council voted 3-3 Monday night (Councilman Layne Barnes was absent) on a motion to ban the use and sale of fireworks within the city. Needing a majority vote on the issue, the motion failed.

Council member Sean Kelly, Linda Johnson and Dana Parnello voted in favor of the ban. Voting against were Bill Allison, Noel Gerken and Erin Weaver.

Setting off fireworks is already prohibited in the city, like most of the county, with the exception of three days, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4 and 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

This amendment would have banned fireworks year-round, including any sale of fireworks.

Several people from both sides of the issue spoke during the public comment portion at the beginning of the meeting Monday night.

Those in favor of a ban cited safety and noise concerns, especially for veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. They also pointed out that the weather this year has been exceptionally dry in comparison to previous years.

However, the ban, if it had passed Monday night, wouldn’t have taken effect until June 29, 2016. According to City Attorney Jeff Taraday, any ordinance adopted by a county or city that is more restrictive than state law needs to have an effective date one year after its adoption.

Because of the council’s timing for their upcoming meetings, that means discharging and the sale of fireworks will still be allowed within the city through July 4, 2016.

Even though the council’s deadlock vote caused the motion to ban fireworks fail, there was consensus by those council members in attendance to put a measure on the November ballot to ask residents whether they want to ban fireworks or not.

If voters approve a fireworks ban, it would still take one calendar year to take effect, according to Taraday.

Those opposed to the ban cited patriotism and teaching kids about fire safety as some of their reasons for not supporting a ban.

In addition, several people that spoke during public comment said a lot of the fireworks stands in Maple Valley support a nonprofit or youth organization.

Jessica Zielinksi, who lives in unincorporated King County, expressed concern about the ban “taking money out of kids hands” because of the nonprofits the fireworks stands support.

“Taking those dollars out of the community would be a huge disservice to the community members,” She said.

The Reporter will continue to follow up on this issue.