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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife is one step closer to getting upgrades to an outdated emergency services radio system. City staff presented councillors with a radio replacement report at Monday's priorities, policies and budget committee meeting.

"It's going to provide far better security for our citizens and our staff who have to respond to dangerous situations," said Coun. David Wind, adding the new system will improve response times.

If council approves the recommendations, upgrades and new radio infrastructure will be phased in over the next three years. Council approved $2.4 million over three years toward the project in December, 2008.

The current radio system has poor coverage in some areas of the city, and obsolete equipment and channel resources do not comply with key National Fire Prevention Association requirements.

The new radio system will enable the city to implement a 911 emergency phone line.

"It's part of the infrastructure that's needed," said Coun. Paul Falvo, who chairs the 911 management committee. The committee is waiting on a consultant report from Planetworks Consulting, the same company that presented the radio replacement study.

It's the second study the city has commissioned on implementing a 911 system in the past six years. The first study only presented the option of having the RCMP run 911 dispatch, but the force said it did not foresee implementing the system in the near future, said Dennis Marchiori, Yellowknife's director of public safety.

RCMP reports decrease in calls

RCMP officers responded to 9.5 per cent fewer calls in March of 2009 than during the same time a year ago, police reported at Monday's municipal services meeting.

Police responded to 1,006 calls last month for everything from assaults to thefts. In March, 2009, police responded to 1,111 calls.

The busiest weekend was Caribou Carnival, where there were several calls leading to public intoxication charges and seven impaired driving charges. Coun. Kevin Kennedy asked Sgt. Larry O'Brien if Yellowknife could be a source of bootlegging after Behchoko residents voted to ban alcohol last week.

O'Brien said that would be an issue for the Behchoko detachment, but he didn't have any immediate concerns.

"In the summer people will spend more time in Yellowknife," he said.

Council looks to save water

City staff asked council to consider reallocating $400,000 from a water treatment plant fund to repair faulty freeze protection systems.

A report presented at Monday's municipal services meeting noted about 23 per cent of the city's drinking water is now wasted by "bleeders" installed to prevent water from freezing. That doesn't account for water lost due to fractures or leaks, the report said.

Whitehorse reduced water usage by 19 per cent by eliminating bleeders and repairing leaks.

Removing the bleeders would improve the capacity and efficiency of the sewage lagoon, the report said. It would also help reduce the city's carbon footprint by reducing the energy used to supply, distribute and circulate the wasted water.

"I think overall it makes a lot of sense," said Coun. Paul Falvo.

It's a reminder that fresh water resources are finite, he added.