This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 58eeaa21bc85 · verified 2026-06-09 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
1
Asset Management Policy - All
MUNICIPALITY
OF RHINELAND
Policy No.: 2020-48
ADOPTED BY: 316/ 20
Last Updated: Sept 2020
DATE: September 9th, 2020
Page: 1 of 5
TITLE: Asset Management Policy
Department: All
PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to define the principles and layout the
framework of the municipalities' asset management program.
RATIONALE: Asset Management is an integrated approach, involving all city
departments, council, stakeholders and ratepayers, to realize value from existing and
new assets. The intent of asset management is to maximize benefits, manage risk and to
provide satisfactory levels of service to the community in a sustainable manner.
POLICY STATEMENT: The Municipality of Rhineland provides a wide range of services
for the community, requiring the acquisition, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation and
decommissioning
of capital assets, including physical assets ( land, buildings, equipment,
transportation, drainage and water and sewer infrastructure) as well as natural assets.
The asset management policy will be the foundation document providing the framework
for the development of the municipalities' asset management strategy and plans to
ensure sustainable service delivery in the future.
DEFINITIONS:
Asset management ( AM) - The coordinated activity of an organization to maximize the
value realized from its assets. It involves the balancing of costs, opportunities, and risks
against a desired performance of assets, to achieve organizational objectives.
Asset - A physical object that is a significant economic resource and provides the
delivery of a program or service.
Infrastructure - The network of physical assets developed and used by the municipality
to support its social, cultural, and economic activities and services.
Levels of service - Statements of service performance delivery which are established
through Council direction, taking into consideration the community wants and needs, as
well as legislative and regulatory requirements.
Life-cycle cost - The sum of all one- time and recurring costs over the full life span of an
asset. Includes the cost to acquire, operate, maintain/ rehabilitate, and
dispose/ decommission the infrastructure asset.
2
Asset Management Policy - All
Risk: events or occurrences that will have undesired impacts on services
Sustainability - Managing infrastructure assets using a balanced approach to meet
long- term economic, social, cultural and environmental needs of a community.
Stakeholder - person or organization that could be affected by, or perceive themselves to
be affected by an activity or decision
Long-term financial Plan: a plan that documents the process of aligning financial
capacity with long- term service objectives.
SCOPE:
The policy applies to all municipal assets solely operated by the municipality,
including:
Land
Buildings ( offices , public works shops, arena, park buildings, firehall)
Equipment & Vehicles ( road equipment, vehicles, mowers, trailers)
Transportation ( road base & surface, bridges, sidewalks, traffic signals,
street lighting, culverts, signage)
Water & Sewer ( reservoir, pump station, fire hydrants, main lines, valves,
curb stops, lagoon, lift station, manholes)
Additionally, the Municipality owns assets which are operated by a volunteer
committee or shares assets that are managed by the Town of Altona. To the
extent possible in collaborating with such parties, the principles laid out in this
policy, shall apply.
ROLE OF ASSET MANAGEMENT POLICY:
Asset management is a coordinated approach involving all departments of the
municipality as well as its stakeholders, citizens and Council. The role of the
Asset Management Policy is to define the fundamental principles that the
municipality is trying to achieve with the adoption of Asset Management. Along
with the Asset Management Policy, other key Asset Management components are
the Asset Management Strategy and the Asset Management Plan. The distinction
and relationship between these documents are listed below:
Asset Management Policy - defines the principles of Asset Management
Asset Management Strategy - defines how the municipality plans to achieve
the Asset Management Policy
Asset Management Plans - defines the specific operational actions required
to achieve the overall asset management strategy
GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
Long-term sustainability
3
Asset Management Policy - All
Services and infrastructure assets will be socio-culturally, environmentally and
economically sustainable in the long-term and consider the needs of both, current
and future generations."
The municipality shall:
Make appropriate long- term decisions that enable assets to meet the
challenges of changing:
o
Stakeholder expectations
o
Legislative requirements
o
Environmental
impacts
o
Technological
changes
Consider socio- cultural, environmental and economic factors during the
asset management and investment planning process
Forecast changes in demographics and future demand for a service
Holistic " big picture" approach
Improve collaboration between departments and to create efficiencies in
operations."
The municipality shall:
Improve collaboration between departments to create efficiency in service
delivery and information sharing
Consider assets in their system- context and interdependency, rather than
in isolation
Maximize use of existing infrastructure through increased utilization
Use reviews and evaluation methods to continually improve service
delivery, increase efficiency, and reduce costs
Service Delivery - LOS
Provide defined levels of service that balance ratepayer expectations with related
cost and risk in accordance with community priorities."
The municipality shall:
Define and review levels of service provided to the ratepayers
o
Maintain assets to meet defined level
o
Monitor levels of service to ensure alignment with council/ community
direction
Direct resources to deliver services at an acceptable level of risk
Operate in a transparent manner to stakeholders and ratepayers
o
Report to council on service performance and asset condition
o
Report to ratepayers on the status and performance of the asset
management program
o
Undertake public consultation to assist in defining levels of service
4
Asset Management Policy - All
Fiscal Responsibility & Decision-making
Demonstrate fiscal responsibility in decision making and develop a repeatable
process to make defendable decisions in capital transactions."
The municipality shall:
Develop and maintain long- term capital investment and funding plans to
enable delivering defined service levels
Develop a repeatable process including appropriate research and
documentation to support an asset management investment decision
Evaluate economic cost and fair fees for services where applicable
o
User-pay system
o
Inflation factors / technological impacts
Consider full life-cycle costs in decision- making including the acquisition,
operation, maintenance/ rehabilitation and disposal of the asset
Continuous Improvement
Develop a culture of continual improvement to progress asset management
processes and ensure delivery of services in an effective and efficient manner"
The municipality shall:
Seek continuous improvement of asset management processes
Monitor and periodically review the asset management processes to
measure their applicability and effectiveness
Incorporate innovative tools, techniques and solutions in asset
management processes
Provide necessary training, education and support to relevant staff
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The successful development and implementation
of the municipalities
asset
management strategy and plan will rely on the active commitment of council and
staff. The following lays out the roles and responsibility for council and staff
alike:
Council
Provide direction on levels of service & priorities
Perform periodic review of asset management practices and direction
Allocate resources through operating & capital budgets to support funding
requirements laid out in the plan and long- term funding schedules
Chief Administrative Officer
Ensures and oversees corporate adoption of asset management policy,
processes and strategies
Establishes an asset management steering committee
Appoints the cross- functional representatives
from relevant departments to
serve on the steering committee as well as chair of the steering committee
Reviews all asset management information prior to presentation to Council
5
Asset Management Policy - All
Asset Management Steering Committee
Provides a forum for discussion and development of asset management
policy, strategy, plans and processes
Encourages the collaboration and integration between different business
areas to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery
Provides a forum for learning, information sharing and co-education
opportunities
Leads the development of corporate asset management tools and practices
and monitors their application across the organization
Department Managers
Lead the adoption of the Asset Management policy within their departments
Allocate appropriate resources for implementation
of the policy and
associated processes
Liaise with asset management steering committee
Corporate Finance
Provides financial direction and support to the departments and asset
management steering committee
Develops and maintains the required financial plans and records in
accordance to the asset management policy and regulatory and statutory
requirements