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The Corporation of the Township of North Huron
By-law No. 66-2024
A by-law to adopt a Strategic Asset Management Policy for the Corporation of the
Township of North Huron.
This accessible version of this by-law is printed under the authority of the Council of the
Township of North Huron.
Printing Date: September 4, 2024
Disclaimer:
The following version is an electronic reproduction made available for information only. It
is not an official version of the by-law. The format may be different, and plans, pictures,
other graphics or text may be missing or altered. The Township of North Huron does not
warrant the accuracy of this electronic version. This consolidation cannot be distributed
or used for commercial purposes. It may be used for other purposes only if you repeat
this disclaimer and the notice of copyright. Official versions of all by-laws can be obtained
from the Clerk's Department by calling 519-357-3550.
The Corporation of the Township of North Huron
By-law No. 66-2024
Being a by-law to adopt a Strategic Asset Management Policy for the Corporation
of the Township of North Huron
WHEREAS Section 8(1) of the Municipal Act S.O. 2001, c. 25 as amended, herein
referred to as the "Act", provides the powers of the municipality to govern its affairs as it
considers appropriate and to enhance the municipality's ability to respond to municipal
issues;
AND WHEREAS Section 11(2) of the Act provides that a lower tier municipality may pass
by-laws respecting matters within its spheres of jurisdiction including matters of financial
management of the municipality and its local boards;
AND WHEREAS Section 3(1) of Ontario Regulation 588/17: Asset Management Planning
For Municipal Infrastructure, provides that every municipality shall prepare a strategic
asset management policy;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Township of North Huron deems it expedient and
necessary to adopt an updated Strategic Asset Management Policy for the Township of
North Huron;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Township of North Huron
ENACTS as follows:
1. That the Strategic Asset Management Policy attached hereto as Schedule "A" is
hereby adopted and shall form part of this by-law.
2. That By-law No. 54-2019 be hereby repealed.
3. That this by-law shall come into force and takes effect on the day of the final
passing thereof.
Read a first and second time this 3rd day of September, 2024.
Read a third time and passed this 3rd day of September, 2024.
__________________________________
Paul Heffer, Reeve
CORPORATE SEAL
__________________________________
Carson Lamb, Clerk
Schedule "A" to By-law No. 66-2024
Page 1 of 7
Strategic Asset Management Policy
Approval Date: September 3, 2024
Township of North Huron
Strategic Asset
Management Policy
Schedule "A" to By-law No. 66-2024
Page 2 of 7
Strategic Asset Management Policy
Approval Date: September 3, 2024
1. Introduction
A Strategic Asset Management Policy formalizes the Municipality's commitment to asset
management, aligns its asset management actions with strategic goals and objectives,
and provides direction to guide Council, management and staff in carrying out its
business, strategic plans and activities. This policy will support the Municipality in focusing
its infrastructure efforts on managing risks, addressing priorities, and meeting short and
long-term needs within the bounds of possible funding.
1.1. Asset Management Vision
The Township of North Huron's vision is to proactively manage its assets to best serve
the Township's objectives, including:
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Effectively delivering services
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Supporting sustainability and economic development, and
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Maintaining prudent financial planning and decision-making
1.2. Policy Goals
The objectives of the policy are to:
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Provide a framework for implementing asset management to enable a
consistent and strategic approach at all levels of the organization
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Provide guidance to staff responsible for asset management
1.3. Strategic Alignment
The Township of North Huron has developed and adopted a Strategic Plan, an Official
Plan, an Emergency Management Plan, a Community Improvement Plan, and an Asset
Management Plan. These plans, and others were designed to meet the legislative
requirements and work together to achieve the Township's mission of providing
innovation and excellence in service delivery. Spending requirements defined in the
budgeting process and in long-term financial planning will reflect the objective of these
plans.
All of the Township's plans rely to some extent on the physical assets owned by the
municipality and the commitment of staff to ensure their strategic use. This includes the
long-term maintenance, repair, and replacement of existing assets along with the
acquisition of new assets to meet the evolving needs of the Township.
Asset management planning therefore will not occur in isolation from other municipal
goals, plans and policies.
2. Asset Management Principles
The key guiding principles of the asset management policy are as follows:
Schedule "A" to By-law No. 66-2024
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Strategic Asset Management Policy
Approval Date: September 3, 2024
2.1. Customer Focused
The Township will have clearly defined levels of service and apply asset management
practices to maintain the confidence of customers in how the Township's assets are
managed.
2.2. Service Focused
The Township will consider all the assets in a service context and take into account their
interrelationships as opposed to optimizing individual assets in isolation.
2.3. Risk-based
The Township will manage the asset risk associated with attaining the agreed levels of
service by focusing resources, expenditures, and priorities based upon risk and criticality
assessments and the corresponding cost/ benefit, recognizing that public safety is the
priority.
2.4. Value-based affordable
The Township will choose practices, interventions and operation that aim at reducing the
lifecycle cost of asset ownership, while satisfying agreed levels of service. Decisions are
based on balancing service levels, risks and costs.
3. Province Required Principles
3.1. Forward-looking
The Township of North Huron shall take a long-term view while considering demographic
and economic trends in the region.
3.2. Budgeting and Planning
The Township of North Huron shall take into account any applicable budgets or fiscal
plans, such as fiscal plans released under the Fiscal Transparency and Accountability
Act, 2004 and Budgets adopted under Part VII of the Municipal Act, 2001.
3.3. Prioritizing
The Township of North Huron shall clearly identify infrastructure priorities which will drive
investment decisions.
3.4. Economic Development
The Township of North Huron shall promote economic competitiveness, productivity, job
creation and training opportunities.
3.5. Transparency
The Township of North Huron shall be evidence-based and transparent. Additionally,
subject to any prohibitions under an Act or otherwise by by-law on the collection, use, or
disclosure of information, the municipality shall:
Schedule "A" to By-law No. 66-2024
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Strategic Asset Management Policy
Approval Date: September 3, 2024
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Make decisions with respect to infrastructure based on information that is
publicly available or made available to the public, and
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Share information with implications on infrastructure and investment decisions
with the Government and broader public sector entities.
3.6. Consistency
The Township of North Huron shall ensure the continued provision of core public services,
such as health care and education within municipal jurisdiction.
3.7. Environmentally Conscious
The Township of North Huron shall minimize the impact of infrastructure on the
environment by:
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Respecting and helping maintain ecological and biological diversity,
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Augmenting resilience to the effects of climate change, and
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Endeavoring to make use of acceptable recycled aggregates.
3.8. Health and Safety
The Township of North Huron shall ensure that the health and safety of workers involved
in construction and maintenance of infrastructure assets is protected.
3.9. Community Focused
The Township of North Huron shall promote community benefits, being the
supplementary social and economic benefits arising from an infrastructure project that
are intended to improve the well-being of a community affected by the project, such as:
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Local job creation and training opportunities (including for apprentices, within the
meaning of Section 9 of the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015.
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Improvement of public space within the community, and
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Promoting accessibility for persons with disabilities.
3.10. Innovation
The Township of North Huron shall create opportunities to make use of innovative
technologies, services and practices, particularly when doing so would utilize technology,
techniques, and practices developed in Ontario.
3.11. Integration
The Township of North Huron shall where relevant and appropriate, be mindful and
consider the principles and content of non-binding provincial or municipal plans and
strategies established under an Act or otherwise, in planning and making decisions
surrounding the infrastructure that supports them.
3.12. Capitalization Thresholds
The Asset Management Policy applies to all assets whose role in service delivery requires
deliberate management by the Township. The service-focused intent of this policy
Schedule "A" to By-law No. 66-2024
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Strategic Asset Management Policy
Approval Date: September 3, 2024
differentiates its requirements for identifying assets from the capitalization thresholds
which are developed for the purposes of financial reporting. For this reason, the
capitalization threshold developed in the current Tangible Capital Asset (TCA) Policy for
financial reporting will not be the guide in selecting the assets covered by asset
management planning processes.
3.13. Governance & Continuous Improvement
This policy requires continuous improvement and adoption of appropriate practices
regarding asset management planning. It requires commitment of key stakeholders within
the Township's organizational structure. The following details the responsibilities of the
key stakeholders within the Township:
3.13.1. Council
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Approve by resolution the asset management plan and policy and their updates
every five years, or as needed
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Support ongoing efforts to continuously improve and implement the asset
management plans
3.13.2. Asset Management Coordinator
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Maintain compliance with the asset management policy and provincial asset
management regulation
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Review, and if necessary, update the asset management policy every five years
on or before July 1st of the fifth year
-
Conduct annual reviews of the asset management plan implementation progress,
including:
- Progress on ongoing efforts to implement the asset management plan;
- Consideration of the asset management policy
- Consultation with department heads; and
- Developing a strategy to address impeding factors including the adoption of
appropriate practices
-
Coordinate relevant asset management implementation activities with the County
and neighboring municipalities
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Develop and maintain a register of all municipal tangible assets
3.13.3. Chief Administrative Officer
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Maintain compliance with the asset management policy and provincial asset
management regulation
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Any factors affecting the ability of the municipality to implement its asset
management plans
3.13.4. Department Heads
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Oversee asset management planning activities that fall within their service area
and in support of others
Schedule "A" to By-law No. 66-2024
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Strategic Asset Management Policy
Approval Date: September 3, 2024
3.14. Budgeting
The Township will integrate findings from the asset management plans into its long-term
financial planning and budgetary processes.
The asset management plan will be referenced by each Department in preparation of
their budget submission to help them:
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Identify all potential revenues and costs (including operating, maintenance,
replacement and decommissioning) associated with forthcoming infrastructure
asset decisions
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Evaluate the validity and need of each significant new capital asset, including
considering the impact on future operating costs; and
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Incorporate new revenue tools and alternative funding strategies where possible
The budgets prepared by each Department will be processed in accordance with the
broader municipal budgeting process.
The financial analysis used for the water and wastewater asset management plans will
align with existing financial plans related to water and wastewater assets. The analysis
completed in each tangential document will reference the most up to date information
from the same datasets, will be based on common methods, and will improve upon one
another.
3.15. Community Planning
The combination of lifecycle analysis and financial sustainability principles will be the
driver in the design and selection of community development or redevelopment that
requires new assets, or existing asset enhancements to take place. Parties involved in
the development of the asset management plans will reference the direction established
in the community plan as well as the methods, assumptions, and date used in its
development. The aim of cross-referencing these plans is to ensure that development
and redevelopment occur within the Township's means through an understanding of
current and future asset needs.
3.16. Climate Change
Climate change will be considered as part of the Township's risk management approach
embedded in local asset management planning methods. This approach will balance the
potential cost of vulnerabilities. The balance will be struck in the levels of service delivered
through operations, maintenance schedules, disaster response plans, contingency
funding and capital investments. The Township's contribution to climate change through
greenhouse gas emissions will be mitigated in accordance with our reduction targets,
financial capacity and stakeholder support.
3.17. Stakeholder Engagement
The ultimate goal of the municipality is to efficiently provide its various stakeholders with
the municipal services they need within the bounds of regulatory requirements, the built
environment and the natural environment. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary
Schedule "A" to By-law No. 66-2024
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Strategic Asset Management Policy
Approval Date: September 3, 2024
that the municipality understand the needs of current stakeholders, consider the needs of
future generations and incorporate these perspectives into asset management plans. The
municipality recognizes them as an integral part of the asset management approach.
Accordingly, the municipality will:
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Provide opportunities for residents and other stakeholders served by the
municipality to provide input into asset management planning; and
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Coordinate asset management planning with other infrastructure owning agencies
such as municipal bodies and regulated utilities.