Asset Management Policy

4.    VISION AND GOALS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS

4.1      Strategic Goal

4.1.1     Council’s goal for the community is a safe, livable, sustainable and economically vibrant community fortified by well-managed and maintained municipal assets.  These asset categories, include, but are not limited to:

• Safe and efficient transportation networks,
• Safe and reliable water distribution networks,
• Economical and reliable sewage collection systems,
• Reliable information technology systems,
• Productive fleets,
• Accessible parks,
• Recreation and civic facilities.

4.2      Council Commitment

4.2.1     This policy articulates Council’s commitment to asset management. This policy outlines how it is to be integrated within the organization in such a way that it is coordinated, cost effective and organizationally sustainable.  This policy also demonstrates to the community that Council is exercising good stewardship and is delivering affordable services while considering its legacy to future residents.  This policy will support the development and improvement of decision-making tools that promote doing the right thing, to the right asset, at the right time.

4.3      Staff Commitment

4.3.1     Staff will implement the policy through the development and use of asset management guidelines and practices.  The policy intends to allow business units the latitude to develop, implement, operate and continually improve asset management practices for their particular asset types and processes within a common framework.  Staff will continually work to optimize processes for the creation, operation, maintenance and disposal of assets as well as promote service levels that balance customer expectations with cost and business risk.

 5.    COUNCIL ASSET MANAGEMENT POLICY STATEMENTS AND PRINCIPALS

Asset management is a broad strategic framework that encompasses many disciplines and involves the entire organization.  In order to achieve the corporate vision and goals for infrastructure assets, the organization will be guided by the following policy statements and principals.

5.1      Policy Statements

The Town of Grimsby will make reasonable efforts to:

5.1.1     Maintain and manage municipal assets at defined levels to support public safety, community well-being and community goals.  The Town does not accept liability for any damages incurred by the public that are the result of not maintaining higher levels of service.

5.1.2     Monitor standards and service levels to ensure that they meet and support the community, as well as Council’s goals and objectives.

5.1.3     Develop and maintain inventories of its municipal assets.

5.1.4     Establish asset replacement strategies using full life cycle costing principles.

5.1.5     Plan financially for the appropriate level of maintenance of assets to deliver service levels and extend the useful life of assets.

5.1.6     Make the commitment to maintain, within reason, the necessary corporate capacity (including, but not limited to, resourcing, financial support, staff competencies, business processes, data and integrated information systems) to support the elements and practices of the asset management system.

5.1.7     Plan for and provide stable long term funding to replace and/or renew and/or decommission assets.

5.1.8     The Town will consider and incorporate asset management in its other corporate plans.

5.1.9     Provide opportunities for residents and other stakeholders to provide input into the municipality’s asset management planning process as applicable.

5.1.10   As part of asset management planning, the Town will consider:

1. The actions that may be required to address vulnerabilities and risks that may be amplified by climate change to the Town’s infrastructure assets with regards to:

   • Operations,

   • Levels of service,

   • Lifecycle management.

2. The anticipated costs associated with vulnerabilities and risks that may be amplified by climate change.
3. An integrated approach to adaptation opportunities, mitigation strategies and recovery strategies that may be undertaken to manage sustainable service delivery and reduce overall climate change impact of Town assets .
4. Disaster planning and contingency funding

5.1.11   Take a long-term view on infrastructure planning and investment to ensure the needs of the municipality will be met in the future.

5.2      POLICY PRINCIPLES

The principles established under the Asset Management Policy to help direct decision making, actions and recommendations are described below.

5.2.1     Make informed decisions based on all available information on that asset class, identifying all revenues and costs (including operation, maintenance, replacement and decommission) associated with asset decisions, including additions and deletions. The basis for the decisions made should be recorded and transparent.

5.2.2     The Town shall create opportunities to communicate with the community and promote openness and transparency on the decision making process as applicable.

5.2.3     Integrate corporate, financial, business, technical and budgetary planning for municipal assets.

5.2.4     Develop and enhance asset management knowledge and competencies to ensure the availability of skill sets required for the implementation of asset management programs.

5.2.5     Establish organization accountability and responsibility for asset inventory, condition, use and performance.

5.2.6     Consult and coordinate planning for asset management with stakeholders, including the Region, neighbouring municipalities and jointly-owned municipal bodies.

5.2.7     Define and document service, maintenance and replacement levels and outcomes.

5.2.8     Use available resources effectively.

5.2.9     Manage assets to be sustainable.

5.2.10   Minimize total life cycle costs of assets.

5.2.11   Minimize risks to users and risks associated with failure.

5.2.12   Achieve/pursue best practices where applicable.

5.2.13   Report on the performance of its asset management program as required.

5.2.14   Ensure the health and safety of workers involved in the construction and maintenance of infrastructure assets.

5.2.15   Foster innovation by creating opportunities to make use of innovative technologies, services and practices.

5.2.16   Promote accessibility for persons with disabilities

Where insufficient resources exist to adequately follow these principles staff shall attempt, as much as is reasonably possible, to follow the overall spirit and intent of these principles.

6.    GUIDELINES AND BEST PRACTICES

6.1      Industry Guidelines and Best Practices

6.1.1     Using accepted industry guidelines and best practices, staff shall implement this policy. The SAMP plays a key role in explaining the method in which the commitments and principles described in the Town’s AM Policy will be implemented; and to ensure that they are connected to the Town’s AMP.

6.1.2     The Town will continue to follow all relevant regulations and requirements for capital asset reporting and asset management.

6.1.3     The Town shall work towards integrating an asset management program into operational plans and data management throughout the organization. Corporate standards will continually be created and improved upon, where applicable, to promote consistency in how assets are managed.

6.1.4     The Town will review current business processes where justified to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency. Through improvements to data quality, there will be continuous improvements to asset management processes which will help achieve increased forecast reliability.

6.2      Asset Management Plans (AMP)

6.2.1     Asset Management Plans (AMP) shall be developed for required asset classes and will outline long-term goals, processes and steps toward how they will be achieved. The AMPs shall be based on recent inventories and condition data (acquired or derived), projected performance, and remaining service life and consequence of losses. They should also consider future growth. Financial plans should consider alternative scenarios and risks, and include public consultation where applicable.

6.2.2     The capitalization thresholds for the Town are detailed in the Grimsby PSAB 3150 Policy. Every asset that provides value or has the potential to provide value and connects to the ability to deliver a level of service shall be evaluated for inclusion within the Asset Management Plan. Inclusion will not be based solely on the established capitalization threshold.

7.    CONTEXT AND INTEGRATION

7.1      Asset and Data Management

7.1.1     With increasing regulation and focus on informed decision-making, asset management has become a necessity that needs to be implemented throughout the organization. Asset management and data management are intrinsically linked, and need to be developed together as the Town increases their reliance on digital information.

 7.2      Policy Integration

7.2.1     Council and staff will consider this policy and integrate it in the development of corporate documents as applicable, such as:

• Official community plan
• Business plans
• Corporate strategic plan
• Council Priorities
• Corporate financial plan
• Capital budget plan
• Data or information management plan
• Operational plans and budgets (including vehicle and fleet plans and budgets)
• Neighbourhood plans/annual reports
• Design criteria and specifications
• Infrastructure servicing, management and replacement plans
• Community social plans
• Parks and recreation plans
• Facility plans
• Transit plans
• Quality Management Systems (Roads and Water)
• Asset Financial Plans (Financial plans prepared under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002; Wastewater financial plans)
• Development Charges Studies

8.    IMPLEMENTATION, REVIEW AND REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

8.1      Key Roles

8.1.1     Council approves Town policies while staff, the public and other stakeholders may provide input on the nature of text of the policy. Council retains the authority to approve, update, amend or rescind Council policies.