COEUR d'ALENE - The Coeur d'Alene City Council unanimously approved allocating funds to hire three new police officers.

The city was initially banking on using funds from a federal grant to hire the three officers. When that grant request was denied, officials explored other options and determined that using savings from an anticipated reduction in its contribution to the Firefighters Retirement Fund was the best option.

Interim City Administrator Troy Tymesen told the city council when it met Tuesday that the FRF, which is controlled by the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho, is fully funded, around 110 percent. Therefore, beginning Jan. 1, PERSI is planning to dramatically reduce the contribution rate for the 22 public employers which participate in FRF. Tymesen added that the lower rate still needs to be approved by the state Legislature.

"It's phenomenally good news," Tymesen said. "The city will save $431,342 annually."

Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White told the city council that the need for additional officers is great. As an example of the need, White said, while he was driving to the council meeting, he was listening to the radio and heard three calls for service come through.

But there wasn't a patrol officer available to respond to any of the calls, he said.

"I don't think that's something we're advocating for as a police agency or a city," White said.

The city will also use $59,055 which was budgeted as matching funds for the federal grant to pay the new officers' salaries.

Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel told The Press Wednesday that the decision by the council will not be detrimental to the fire department.

"They had a short-term need and they filled it with those funds," Gabriel said. "It didn't negatively impact our plan."

The plan, according to Gabriel, is to present the council with a general obligation bond in December in order to address capital needs for the next 10 years.

Gabriel added that the department hopes to build a new fire station in order to provide better service to the western side of the city, which he said has been experiencing tremendous growth. Gabriel said the city could use savings from the retirement fund, after the station is built, to hire new firefighters.

"I can't speak for the council but from what I saw last night they still seem committed to that plan," Gabriel said.