SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Iqaluit's new mayor Madeleine Redfern got right down to business at the first city council meeting she chaired in the chambers at city hall on Jan. 11.

Redfern and fellow newcomer councillor Joanasie Akumalik settled into their new roles and actively participated in discussions.

One of the first orders of business for the first meeting of the 2011 was to elect the deputy mayor chairs, co-chairs and members for the various committees.

David Ell will stay on as deputy mayor after a secret ballot vote.

The results per committee are, listing chair, co-chair and member if there is one:

Finance: Romeyn Stevenson and David Ell

Planning and Lands: Mary Wilman and Jimmy Kilabuk

Public Works and Engineering: Mat Knicklebein and Jimmy Kilabuk

Niksiit: Simon Nattaq and Mary Akpalialuk

Recreation: Romeyn Stevenson, Joanasie Akumalik and Mary Akpalialuk

Public Safety: Mary Wilman, Mary Akpalialuk and Joanasie Akumalik

Search and Rescue: Simon Nattaq

Emergency Management: Mat Knicklebein

Economic Development: Joanasie Akumalik, David Ell and Jimmy Kilabuk

Board of Revision (reviews property taxes): Joanasie Akumalik

Taxi Review: Mat Knicklebein and Jimmy Kilabuk

Grievance: Mary Wilman, Mat Knicklebein

New chief municipal enforcement officer

City officials swore in Kevin Sloboda as the new chief municipal enforcement officer.

The city's director of emergency and protective services Chris Wilson welcomed Sloboda as did other members of council.

He comes to Iqaluit with a background in community policing and has worked on aboriginal reserves in Western Canada.

He, along with five staff at the Municipal Enforcement Department, are responsible to educate the community while enforcing the city's nearly 600 bylaws, acts and some territorial acts and regulations. The department is also responsible for enforcing Nunavut's Motor Vehicle Act and All-Terrain Vehicle Act.

Calls to RCMP up by 760 in 2010

Calls to Iqaluit RCMP increased to 7956 from 7196 in 2009, RCMP Staff Sgt. Roger Tournier told city council.

He said a lot of these responses were self-generated as at one point during the year the detachment had 27 members. This he said allowed them to do 24-hour policing. By April 1, this number will be down to 18 constables. He said it is the police's intent to continue what they were doing.

What resonated with councillors most was the fact almost all the assaults and mischief charges were alcohol-related.

"If it wasn't for alcohol we probably wouldn't have a job here," said Tournier.

He said many offenders are in cells for simple drunkenness and the detachment hopes to develop some type of counselling program before individuals are released.

"We want to help them before we send them home," he said.

Of concern to Tournier was the increase in the number of collisions.

Out of 283 traffic offences, 34.9 per cent were collisions. While only two people sustained injuries he said it is something to watch in the future.

"It shows we may be starting to develop a traffic problem," he said.

Tournier also said members respond to at least one call a day involving a mental health issue. There were no murders in

the capital city this year while there were seven across the territory.

Several councillors thanked the RCMP for their hard work. Councillors Romeyn Stevenson and Joanasie Akumalik suggested the detachment should look at doing bike and foot patrols in 2011.

"I think it would be really valuable to you to have people patrolling on foot more than in their trucks," said Stevenson.

Tournier added the police's priorities for 2011 include reducing the amount of drugs and alcohol and working with youth to raise awareness about these and other such issues.

Iqaluit RCMP 2010 report highlights:

Total calls for service: 7956 in 2010, 7196 in 2009 (increase of 760 calls)

Total number of prisoners at the Baffin Correction Centre: 3355 in 2010, 4012 in 2009 (decrease of 657 prisoners)

Traffic offences: 283 in 2010 (34.9 per cent collisions), 309 in 2009 (20 per cent collisions)

Provincial Act offences: 1015 in 2010 (30.7 per cent related to the Mental Health Act), 742 in 2009 (39.3 per cent related to the Mental Health Act)

Other Criminal Code offences: 2349 in 2010 (73.6 per cent for disturbing the peace), 2473 in 2009 (71.8 per cent for disturbing the peace)

Drugs: 115 in both 2010 and 2009

Crimes against persons: 995 in 2010 (50.5 per cent were assaults), 921 in 2009 (51.5 per cent were assaults)

Property crimes: 2243 in 2010 (79.6 per cent for mischief), 2439 in 2009 (59 per cent for mischief)

Common police activities including false alarms and record checks: 2084 in 2010, 713 in 2009