During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council approved a $10,000 Lodging Tax Advisory Committee budget allocation for the Historical Society of Federal Way.

But before the vote, Councilwoman Susan Honda motioned for the item to be pulled from the agenda for a separate discussion.

“The reason I pulled this item is that there was a request for $20,000 and we were only able to allocate $10,000,” Honda said. “We’ve heard tonight how well we were doing financially. I find it hard to believe that we can’t find $10,000 more to give them the $20,000 they requested.”

Other council members agreed the Historical Society’s work is important to the city and that they should be supported in full.

Councilwoman Kelly Maloney suggested that they move forward with the $10,000 but make a commitment to find a way to fund the rest. Honda stated the commitment was what she wanted in order to ensure the rest of the money was not forgotten.

“Our history cannot be stressed enough,” Maloney said. “Our school children need to learn more about what our history is and I just think it’s essential that we support this entity in our community.”

Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge agreed on moving forward with the first $10,000 and said the appropriate directors would discuss where the rest of the funding could come from.

Councilman Martin Moore also stated that the city needs to do more than just give funding to the Historical Society by doing more policy work that will support the organization as well.

Some of the services the funding will help with include light maintenance and cleaning of the Barker and Denny cabins at the West Hylebos Wetlands Park. The funds will also allow the Historical Society to make docents available to provide information to the public.

The cabins will be open during the months of May through October from noon to 4 p.m. on every second Saturday.

The Historical Society plans to enhance peoples’ experiences by bringing in local groups; such as the Northwest Woodcarvers, Crazy Quilters of Federal Way and the Old Time Fiddlers. They will hold special events such as the salmon release that will be coordinated with schools to bring students to the site.

“I would like at our next meeting in September, to be able to find the other $10,000 and get it to them,” Honda said. “They need the money and they wouldn’t have asked for the money had they not needed it. It’s very important to me and to everyone up here that we fund this completely and totally as requested.”

Mayor Jim Ferrell gave his guarantee that city officials would find the money.