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IQALUIT - Iqaluit's 2009 budget is geared towards trying to keep pace with population growth and increasing demand for municipal services.

Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik said traffic is becoming a problem as Iqaluit's streets are congested at the start and end of the workday and during regular break times.

"Traffic may be small by southern standards but people are already getting sick of it," she said.

The city has budgeted for a feasibility study into installing traffic signals at the four-way and/or the hospital intersection.

Another concern addressed in the budget is the need for more space for city hall employees. The present building is no longer large enough to meet the needs of the civil service, which is growing because of the rising population of Iqaluit. Additionally, getting to the city hall offices involves walking up a flight of stairs, which can be challenging or impossible for the elderly or people with physical disabilities, Sheutiapik said.

The city will consider options such as adding onto the facility or building a new structure elsewhere and moving part or all of the city's offices. One option under consideration is to build a multi-purpose complex to serve as city hall offices and a recreation centre.

Sheutiapik suggested Iqaluit could hold a referendum at the same time as the municipal election in October 2009 for the voters to decide which option the city should pursue.

As well, the city's landfill is near capacity and Iqaluit needs to find a fresh site as soon as possible.

The territorial government's recycling program has helped reduce the amount of garbage the city produces but Iqaluit no longer burns its garbage because the prevailing winds often took the fumes of the fires right through the city, causing environmental and health concerns.

Other improvements in the budget include continuing the paving program, which began in 2008. More than seven kilometres of road in Iqaluit was paved, mostly in the subdivision around the Road to Nowhere and Tundra Valley. The plan for 2009 includes paving another 13 km of Happy Valley and the Lower Base.

There are also plans to replace the concrete floor of the Arctic Winter Games arena, which collapsed three years ago and is beyond repair.