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2025
Asset Management Plan
Page i
Table of Contents | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Table of Contents
Key Definitions........................................................................ �����������������������������������ii
Acronyms ................................................................................................................... iii
Executive Summary ................................................................................................... v
1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 2
1.1 City Responsibilities, Services and Future Growth ............................................ 2
1.2 What's New in the 2025 Asset Management Plan? ........................................... 5
1.3 Advancing Asset Management Planning at the City .......................................... 7
1.4 Maturing the Enterprise Asset Management System ....................................... 18
1.5 Scope and Purpose of the 2025 Asset Management Plan ............................... 19
1.6 Informing Asset Renewal Needs to Assist Capital Programming ..................... 20
1.7 Achieving Asset Management Regulatory Requirements ................................ 21
1.8 Supporting the City's Vision and Strategic Priorities ........................................ 23
2.0 State of the Infrastructure.................................................................................. 27
2.1 Assessing Asset Inventories, Values, Condition and Age ................................ 27
2.2 State of Infrastructure Summary ...................................................................... 32
3.0 Levels of Service ................................................................................................ 35
3.1 Evaluating Levels of Service ............................................................................ 35
3.2 Proposed Levels of Service ............................................................................. 37
3.3 Technical Levels of Service Summary ............................................................. 39
4.0 Asset Management Strategies .......................................................................... 43
4.1 Employing Asset Lifecycle Strategies .............................................................. 43
4.2 Utilizing a Risk-Based Prioritization Framework .............................................. 47
4.3 Risk Summary .................................................................................................. 51
4.4 Consideration of Climate Change .................................................................... 53
4.5 Alignment with the City's Affordable Housing Strategy .................................... 56
5.0 Asset Investment and Financial Strategy ........................................................ 58
5.1 Financing Service Delivery ............................................................................... 58
5.2 Identifying and Forecasting Asset Needs ......................................................... 60
5.3 Forecasting Available Funding ......................................................................... 72
5.4 Identifying and Managing Funding Shortfalls ................................................... 76
5.5 Implementing the Asset Management Plan and Financial Strategy ................. 81
6.0 Continuous Improvement .................................................................................. 85
6.1 Improving Data, Processes and Evidence-Based Decisions ........................... 85
7.0 Closing Remarks ................................................................................................ 90
Appendix A: Roadway System ............................................................................... 91
Appendix B: Active Transportation.......................................................................116
Appendix C: Water Distribution ............................................................................136
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection .....................................................................155
Appendix E: Stormwater Management .................................................................175
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation ....................................................... 196
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities ........................................................................215
Appendix H: Cultural Services ............................................................................. 235
Appendix I: Libraries ............................................................................................. 252
Appendix J: Protection Services ..........................................................................271
Appendix K: Administration Services ................................................................. 290
Page ii
Key Definitions | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Key Definitions
Asset: A physical resource with economic value that a municipality controls with the
expectation that it will provide a public service. An asset may include infrastructure,
equipment, vehicles, or other resources with a purchase value at or above the City's
capitalization threshold. An asset can also include natural and green assets such as trees
and natural areas that are measurable.
Asset Management (AM): The coordinated activity of an organization to acquire, construct,
maintain, rehabilitate, replace, or dispose of assets for the purpose of providing public
service and value to the community.
Asset Management Plan (AM Plan): A plan developed for the management of
infrastructure assets, in compliance with O. Reg. 588/17, that combines multi-disciplinary
management techniques (including technical and financial) over the lifecycle of the asset in
the most cost-effective manner to provide a specific level of service.
Asset Management Program: The term used to describe the activities, people, and
processes that make up Asset Management at the City.
Backlog: The term "backlog" in this Asset Management Plan represents the dollar value of
asset state of good repair renewal needs, including asset replacements or rehabilitations,
that the City could complete currently or that are overdue. The backlog value is identified
through condition assessments and Asset Management analysis.
Current Replacement Value: The cost to replace an existing asset, like for like, at the
present time. Current replacement values represent costs including materials, labour, design
and project management that are involved in replacing an existing asset with its current
equivalent, at current industry pricing.
Estimated Service Life (ESL): The estimated amount of time that an asset is expected to
maintain its performance or function.
Funding Shortfall: The amount, in dollars, that the City requires to meet its financial needs
associated with achieving its proposed levels of service. A funding shortfall only occurs when
the funding available is not enough to meet these financial needs.
Levels of Service (LOS): Levels of service is a qualitative or quantitative description of a
service that is being provided. The City evaluates two types of Levels of Service: Community
Levels of Service and Technical Levels of Service.
Risk: In an asset management context, risk refers to the probability and consequence
(outcome) of potential events that could negatively affect the City's ability to meet its defined
levels of service.
Page iii
Acronyms | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Acronyms
AM
Asset Management
AMI
Advanced Metering Infrastructure
AM Plan
Asset Management Plan
AODA
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
BCA
Building Condition Assessment
BCI
Bridge Condition Index
CAM
Corporate Asset Management
CCTV
Closed Circuit Television
CECI
Cultural Equipment Condition Index
CLOS
Customer Level(s) of Service
COF
Consequence of Failure
CPP
Concrete Pressure Pipe
CRV
Current Replacement Value
CSP
Community Stewardship Program
CSP
Corrugated Steel Pipe
EAB
Emerald Ash Borer
EAM
Enterprise Asset Management
ESL
Estimated Service Life
FAO
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario
FCI
Facility Condition Index
FFCI
Frontline Fire Fleet Condition Index
GHG
Greenhouse Gases
GIS
Geographic Information Systems
I&I
Inflow and Infiltration
IAM
Institute of Asset Management
IDF Curve
Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curve
ITCI
IT Condition Index
LECCI
Library Equipment and Collections Condition Index
LID
Low Impact Development
LOF
Likelihood of Failure
LOS
Level(s) of Service
MTD
Manufactured Treatment Device
NFPA
National Fire Protection Association
OSIM
Ontario Structure Inspection Manual
Page iv
Acronyms | 2025 Asset Management Plan
PACP
Pipeline Assessment Certification Program
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
PQI
Pavement Quality Index
PRCI
Parks and Outdoor Recreation Condition Index
PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride
RECI
Recreation Equipment Condition Index
RHCPA
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
RHDDO
Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory
SCADA
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
SCI
Sidewalk Condition Index
SLOS
Strategic Level(s) of Service
SMCI
Storm Sewermain Condition Index
SME
Subject Matter Expert
SOGR
State of Good Repair
SSCI
Sanitary Sewer Condition Index
SWMF
Stormwater Management Facility
SWMFCI
Stormwater Management Facility Condition Index
TCA
Tangible Capital Assets
TCI
Trail Condition Index
TLOS
Technical Level(s) of Service
TMP
Transportation Master Plan
TRCA
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
TSS
Total Suspended Solids
UFMP
Urban Forest Management Plan
UMESP
Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan
WCI
Watermain Condition Index
Page v
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Executive Summary
Advancing Asset Management Planning in Richmond Hill
The City presents this 2025 Asset Management Plan to comply with the July 1, 2025
milestone of Ontario Regulation 588/17. This represents the final major milestone of
the regulation. After this milestone, the City will continue to develop AM Plans on a
5-year cycle, as required by the regulation. The City is committed to continuously
improving its evidence-based asset management planning capabilities to ensure
proactive maintenance and strategic investments in assets, thereby supporting
reliable services for the community.
The City recognizes the vital role its infrastructure assets play in delivering essential
services to the community. Managing these infrastructure assets requires robust asset
management (AM) processes, systems and plans that are focused on understanding and
planning for timely renewals through informed investment decisions. The City's asset
management journey has focused on leveraging innovative technologies and processes,
utilizing the best available data through studies and assessments, and implementing
continuous improvements. As part of this, the City has been continually enhancing the
condition assessments of its assets and proactively investing in them to ensure they provide
reliable services for the community.
Since 2018, the City has also been advancing its corporate asset management planning
capabilities to support best business practices, as well as to comply with the ongoing
requirements of Ontario Regulation 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal
Infrastructure (O. Reg. 588/17). One of the most significant advancements has been
the continual enhancement of the City's Corporate Asset Management Enterprise Asset
Management (EAM) System. The EAM system is supported by and works in tandem with
other City asset management source systems and data. This 2025 Asset Management Plan
represents the result of the City's advancements in asset management planning capabilities
and the culmination of these various source systems, data and technical studies working
collaboratively.
This 2025 Asset Management Plan includes an assessment of City-owned assets' State
of Infrastructure, the City's proposed Levels of Service and associated performance, a
summary of the lifecycle activities the City will undertake to achieve proposed levels of
service, and a financial strategy that details the City's plan to fund these needs, and how the
City will respond to funding shortfalls, manage risks and implement the asset management
plan.
The purpose of this 2025 Asset Management Plan is to:
- Support the long-term stewardship of the City's assets while contributing to
furthering the City's strategic priorities and vision for the community;
- Assist with capital programming for the development of the City's upcoming 2026
Capital Budget and Forecast; and,
- Achieve compliance with the July 1, 2025 O. Reg. 588/17 requirements.
Page vi
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
What's New in the 2025 Asset Management Plan?
The City's 2025 AM Plan maintains alignment with the previous 2024 AM Plan. The
data and analysis in this 2025 AM Plan is based on updated data for this year. In
addition, some key new elements in this 2025 AM Plan also include an evaluation of
proposed levels of service, as well as a financial strategy that compares forecasted
infrastructure needs to forecasted revenues.
Due to the milestones related to Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 588/17, the City is required
to produce this 2025 Asset Management Plan (AM Plan) just one year following last year's
2024 Asset Management Plan. As a result, this 2025 AM Plan should be considered an
update to the 2024 AM Plan, rather than an independent document. Much of the content
remains unchanged from 2024, to ensure alignment with that recent initiative.
The following summarizes the changes that were made for this 2025 AM Plan:
-
Asset data and analyses have been updated with the latest data;
-
This AM Plan reports on the City's proposed levels of service, which is a new
requirement of O. Reg. 588/17 for 2025;
-
New commentary in each of the Appendices is provided to explain why the proposed
levels of service are appropriate for the City, which is also a requirement of O. Reg.
588/17;
-
Financial and performance forecasts of asset needs have been updated to reflect the
City's proposed levels of service;
-
A new financial strategy section is included in this 2025 AM Plan, which provides
additional information and financial analysis, and is aligned with the requirements of
O. Reg. 588/17;
-
The Appendices, which provide detailed analysis and commentary for individual
service areas, have been expanded to include commentary on potential lifecycle
strategies and mitigation of risks associated with funding pressures and asset needs.
For additional commentary pertaining to what's new in this 2025 Asset Management Plan,
please refer to Section 1.2.
Page vii
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Assessing Asset Inventories, Values, Conditions and Age
The City's assets have an estimated replacement value of $12.8 billion and are on
average in Good to Very Good condition.
In compliance with O. Reg. 588/17, the assessment of the City's assets included updating
asset inventories; current replacement values; condition information; and, average ages and
estimated service lives. Based on this assessment, the City's infrastructure assets have an:
-
Estimated 2025 replacement value of $12.8 billion, which represents a $1.4 billion or
12% increase over their 2024 values ($11.4 billion);
-
Overall average asset condition of Very Good (Grade A), which is the same overall
average asset condition as in 2024; and,
-
Assets on average are generally young. The average age of assets is generally within
the first half of their estimated service lives.
Figure E-1: Asset Replacement Value and Condition Profile
Trend
(2024 to 2025)
Trend
(2024 to 2025)
Wastewater
$3.01 B
23%
Stormwater
$3.27 B
26%
Water
$2.82 B
22%
Roadway
$1.99 B
16%
Active Transportation
$0.50 B
4%
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
$0.47 B
4%
Recreation
$0.36 B
3%
Administration
$0.15 B
1%
Libraries
$0.10 B
1%
Protection
$0.06 B
0.4%
Cultural
$0.05 B
0.4%
Very Good
$8.46 B
66%
Good
$2.56 B
20%
Fair
$1.20 B
10%
Poor
$0.40 B
3%
Very Poor
$0.15 B
1%
Average Asset
Condition
A (Very Good)
(2025)
Total Asset
Valuation
$12.8 billion
(2025)
$11.4 billion (2024)
Cost pressures
($1.2 billion)
New assets
($0.2 billion)
$12.8 billion
(2025)
Page viii
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Evaluating Proposed Levels of Service (LOS)
The City's Levels of Service Framework was implemented to monitor current asset
performance and to assist in articulating the current levels of service as well as
the proposed levels of service that the City plans to provide to the community.
Levels of Service are tied to the City's lifecycle strategy to connect service levels to
investment needs to inform decision making.
Levels of Service are key business drivers that play an important role in asset management
planning. Understanding how assets are performing and the impact on the services they
are supporting can inform important investment decisions. In response to O. Reg. 588/17
and evolving City services, the City's LOS Framework captures the mandated O. Reg.
588/17 LOS measures, as well as additional City-defined measures that align with other City
initiatives, including master plans and other studies. It includes overarching strategic LOS,
community-based LOS, technical-based LOS, current measures, current performance and
proposed performance. It provides a line of sight from the City's strategic objectives, to the
day-to-day activities carried out by staff to manage assets to realize strategic priorities and
master plan visions.
This 2025 Asset Management Plan includes complete listings and descriptions of the
City's key LOS measures along with their current and proposed performance. The current
performance results demonstrate that the City's assets are generally performing as intended
and are supporting reliable service delivery to the community. The City generally proposes
to maintain these levels of service moving forward across all service areas. By reporting the
City's current and proposed levels of service in this 2025 Asset Management Plan, the City
has achieved compliance with O. Reg. 588/17.
Figure E-2: City of Richmond Hill Levels of Service Framework
Page ix
Employing Asset Management Strategies
Lifecycle strategies are used by the City to maintain its assets and maximize their
value. The prioritization of major capital renewal needs is facilitated by the Corporate
Asset Management Risk Framework within the City's Enterprise Asset Management
(EAM) system, directing available funding to where it is needed the most.
Asset management strategies are the planned lifecycle activities that Richmond Hill uses
to maintain and manage its infrastructure assets. There are many different scheduled
inspections, maintenance actions, and repair activities that continually occur to ensure that
Richmond Hill's assets perform reliably. These actions help to maintain the City's assets
so that they remain in service and continue to provide services to the community. Lifecycle
activities also include rehabilitations, reconstructions and replacements of assets which are
major capital treatments funded through the City's Capital Budget.
The City proactively undertakes continuous and ongoing technical condition assessments
of its assets that identify the required lifecycle-based treatments. Capital-based lifecycle
models were also developed and incorporated into the City's EAM that describe the
deterioration of assets over their life and the required treatments and costs to address
them. These models reflect the City's current practices as well as recommended treatments
informed by technical condition assessments, expert engineering principles and industry
best practices.
This enabled the EAM to forecast suggested capital interventions and their impacts on
estimated future investment levels and LOS. The Corporate Asset Management Risk
Framework estimates the risk criticality of the City's assets using specific metrics related
to likelihood and potential consequences if assets were to prematurely fail. This framework
supports the prioritization of these asset lifecycle investment needs given funding
constraints. Overall, the Corporate Asset Management risk profile for the City's assets is on
average Very Low (Grade A) as follows:
This 2025 Asset Management Plan reports the lifecycle strategies for the City's assets,
along with their relative criticality based on the EAM Risk Framework. This satisfies the O.
Reg. 588/17 requirements and also assists with capital programming for the development
of the Capital Budget and Forecast to move the City's strategic priorities and vision forward.
Furthermore, the City utilizes the recommendations from the EAM analysis to inform the
City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast. Included within that analysis is an assessment
of asset risk and criticality. By identifying risk/criticality, the EAM supports City staff in
ensuring that assets with higher risk are included in the Capital Budget and Forecast.
Figure E-3: Corporate Asset Management Risk Profile for the City's Assets
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
$8,498 M
$3,364 M
$904 M
$3 M
$0 M
$0 M
$2,000 M
$4,000 M
$6,000 M
$8,000 M
$10,000 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
Page x
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment and Financial Strategy
This 2025 Asset Management Plan completes an evaluation of the financial needs
associated with achieving the City's proposed levels of service. It also completes
a forecast of available revenues in order to identify if an infrastructure shortfall
exists. For areas with an infrastructure shortfall, this AM Plan proposes strategies to
mitigate the shortfall and manage any risks.
By utilizing the state of the City's infrastructure (e.g. condition), lifecycle strategies (e.g.
treatments), levels of service (e.g. performance) and risk framework (e.g. prioritization), the EAM
estimates the following:
-
Currently, the EAM has identified a $327 million infrastructure backlog of immediate asset
renewal needs;
-
The EAM has forecasted an annual average of $86 million of ongoing asset renewal needs
from 2025 to 2034 and $140 million from 2025 to 2051 to achieve proposed levels of
service;
-
When compared to historic spending patterns, the City would require a phased-in increase
in spending of $5.6 to $7.0 million per year until 2051 to achieve proposed levels of service;
and,
-
The City also estimates an additional $2.5 to $3.0 million annually to address non-renewal
state of good repair (SOGR) needs.
Looking at the upcoming 10-year period, the 2025 AM Plan has identified the following as part of
its financial strategy:
-
A total 10-year investment of $998 million for renewal and non-renewal state of good repair
(SOGR) needs will be required to achieve proposed levels of service (equivalent annual
investment of $100 million). This includes:
-
$596 million for non-rate supported services ($60 million annually);
-
$276 million for water and wastewater rate supported services based on the Water
and Wastewater Financial Plan ($28 million annually); and,
-
$126 million for stormwater management rate supported services based on the
Stormwater Management Financial Plan ($13 million annually).
-
The City has forecasted total revenues of $769 million over 10 years ($77 million annually),
which it has available to allocate to capital renewal needs, including:
-
$356 million for non-rate supported services ($36 million annually);
-
$285 million for water and wastewater rate supported services ($29 million annually);
and,
-
$128 million for stormwater management rate supported services ($13 million
annually).
-
When comparing investment needs to forecasted revenues, the City has identified the
following for the next 10 years:
-
A total infrastructure shortfall of approximately $240 million for non-rate supported
services ($24 million annually);
-
No shortfall for water and wastewater rate supported services; and,
-
No shortfall for stormwater management rate supported services.
Page xi
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure E-4: Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - All Services ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$50 M
$100 M
$150 M
$200 M
$250 M
$300 M
$350 M
$400 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$5.6 to $7.0 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
$3.0 M for stormwater management pond rehabilitations
$0.3 M for street and park tree replacements
$2.0 M for fire services
Table E-1: Summary of the Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy by Service ($ millions)
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Roadway
84.2
14.7
+2.8 to 3.3
284.6
28.5
1,468.5
54.4
Active
Transportation
14.2
0.1
+0.5 to 0.7
27.9
2.8
213.0
7.9
Water
88.2
13.3
+0.5 to 0.7
159.6
16.0
568.7
21.1
Wastewater
Stormwater1
72.7
5.4
+0.7 to 1.0
118.8
11.9
520.8
19.3
Parks2
27.1
3.1
+0.25 to 0.30
45.6
4.6
186.8
6.9
Recreation
15.4
7.9
+0.30 to 0.35
93.8
9.4
327.7
12.1
Culture
1.0
0.1
+0.20 to 0.25
10.9
1.1
81.2
3.0
Libraries
10.2
2.5
+0.13 to 0.15
31.2
3.1
116.4
4.3
Protection3
4.2
0.4
+0.05 to 0.07
24.8
2.5
84.2
3.1
Administration
9.8
5.5
+0.15 to 0.16
62.4
6.2
204.0
7.6
Total
$326.9
$52.9
+$5.6 to $7.0
$859.6
$86.0
$3,771.3
$139.7
1. $3.0 M for stormwater management pond rehabilitations would be required annually.
2. $0.3 M for street and park tree replacements due to storm events and invasive species would be required annually.
3. $2.0 M for Protection Services to align with historical average spending for this service area would be required annually.
Page xii
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure E-5: Comparison of Needs and Funding (2025-2034) - Non-Rate Supported Services
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Projected Available Annual Funding
Total SOGR Needs
10-Yr Average Funding
10-Yr Average SOGR Needs
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Projected Available Annual Funding
Water and Wastewater Financial Plan Needs
10-Yr Average Funding
10-Yr Average SOGR Needs
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Projected Available Annual Funding
Stormwater Management Financial Plan Needs
10-Yr Average Funding
10-Yr Average SOGR Needs
Figure E-6: Comparison of Needs and Funding (2025-2034) - Water and Wastewater Rate Supported Services
Figure E-7: Comparison of Needs and Funding (2025-2034) - Stormwater Management Rate Supported Services
Total Shortfall (2025-34)
$240 M
Avg. Annual Shortfall
$24 M/yr
No Shortfall Identified
(2025-34)
No Shortfall Identified
(2025-34)
Page xiii
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
To manage shortfalls, the City can enact a number of strategies. These include:
-
Adjusting lifecycle strategies to modify the timing of required investments in areas that
will support this without taking on additional risks;
-
Adjusting asset performance expectations or levels of service within a threshold that
is acceptable to the community;
-
Increasing funding either through modest increases to taxation and/or user rates, by
seeking grant funding, by drawing from available reserves, or through debt financing;
and/or,
-
Managing risks by focusing efforts on areas of high risk and by keeping assets in
service through various operating activities.
Implementing the Asset Management Plan and Financial Strategy
This 2025 Asset Management Plan is primarily implemented via its integration into
the City's Capital Budgeting process. The asset management analysis completed in
this AM Plan aids in suggesting state of good repair asset renewal needs and helps
guide their priority through the Corporate Asset Management Risk Framework.
The City of Richmond Hill follows a rigorous and reiterative year-round annual budgeting
process that includes the development and approval of the Operating Budget and the
Capital Budget. The City's Capital Budget and Forecast is a comprehensive financial plan
that identifies the infrastructure investment needs and the required funding for the renewal of
existing infrastructure as well as for new or expansion growth assets.
The development of capital projects for the City's Capital Budget and Forecast are informed
by the various technical studies and condition assessments completed by the City's
departments and supported by the suggested asset renewal needs from the EAM and this
2025 Asset Management Plan. This approach ensures that all capital project requests are
developed using a holistic evidence-based approach from a corporate-wide perspective to
achieve strategic priorities.
The suggested financial strategy from this 2025 Asset Management Plan will benefit the
upcoming 2026 and future Capital Budgeting processes by supporting the identification
of state of good repair needs and project priorities, and forecasting condition service
levels for different funding scenarios. Also, aligning the City's Capital Budget and Forecast
with the Corporate Asset Management asset hierarchy provides a clear line of sight from
how the investments made into assets impact the community services they provide. The
prioritization of capital projects for the development of the City's Capital Budgeting process
is based on the EAM's Asset Management Risk Framework, achieving the City's strategic
priorities, and addressing any regulatory needs. Therefore, utilizing the EAM's suggested
infrastructure renewal strategy and risk prioritization enables this Asset Management Plan to
be implemented through the City's Capital Budget and Forecast.
Page xiv
Executive Summary | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Continuous Improvement
A five-year continuous improvement plan has been developed to further enhance
corporate asset management data and processes to better support evidence-based
infrastructure investment decisions and regular reporting.
Throughout the City's corporate asset management journey, a number of improvements
were implemented that advanced the City's corporate asset management capabilities
and helped the City achieve past and current regulatory reporting requirements. Moving
forward, a five-year continuous improvement plan has been developed to further enhance
the quality of asset data, strengthen asset management processes, and progress annual
monitoring and reporting for incorporation into the City's EAM. This plan includes practical
actionable tasks, timing and outcomes to be achieved, which are detailed in this 2025
Asset Management Plan. These form the basis for the next phase of the City's ongoing
corporate asset management journey to not only meet ongoing regulatory requirements, but
more importantly, to mature corporate asset management planning at the City. Continued
collaboration will be a key focus of the five-year continuous improvement plan.
Closing Remarks
The City is relatively young and assets are overall in Good condition. As the City
continues to age, it expects additional financial pressures to continue to ensure it
provides levels of service that the community expects. The City has an advantage
that since it is relatively young, it has begun to assess these issues proactively
through its Asset Management program and will continue to do so into the future.
The City's asset portfolio is on average in Good to Very Good condition, which is in part due
to its relatively young age, but also a reflection of the City's success in managing its assets
to date. The City's current backlog was assessed at 2.5% of its asset portfolio's current
replacement value, which is low compared to municipal infrastructure in the province as
a whole. Most municipalities operate with a level of backlog, and the average backlog for
municipalities in Ontario was reported as 10.8% of asset replacement value in 2021 by the
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO).1
This AM Plan has identified a current funding shortfall to achieve the City's proposed levels
of service. As the City's assets continue to age, it will be difficult to continue to achieve
service levels if funding shortfalls are not addressed. This AM Plan has also identified that
financial pressures in the long term will be significant compared to today. In the face of these
challenges, the City has a significant advantage, as it has begun to respond proactively,
while it is still relatively young.
This AM Plan has provided recommendations on options to address funding shortfalls,
including increasing funding. Other options include adjusting asset lifecycle strategies and
adjusting asset performance expectations. The City's forthcoming asset management work
will focus on better understanding the balance of these options that will result in a path
forward that ensures costs are balanced with service levels, while risks are mitigated for the
long term.
1
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) (2021). Municipal Infrastructure: A Review of Ontario's Municipal
Infrastructure and an Assessment of the State of Repair.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Chapter 1
Introduction
Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.0
Introduction
1.1
City Responsibilities, Services and Future Growth
The City provides an array of essential services to the diverse and growing
community that are supported by its reliable infrastructure.
The City of Richmond Hill is a lower-tier municipality within the Regional Municipality of York
(York Region) that spans 101 square kilometres and shares borders with five neighbouring
municipalities: the City of Vaughan, City of Markham, Township of King, Town of Aurora, and
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Figure 1: Map of the City of Richmond Hill
City of Richmond Hill
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Richmond Hill is a diverse community with a population of approximately 217,060 and
employment of 81,584 jobs.21 The City has experienced significant development since the
early 1980s and as a result, new infrastructure has been built and existing assets have been
expanded to service that growth in alignment with Richmond Hill's vision for the community.
The City owns and maintains a wide array of assets that support the delivery of essential
services to its diverse community. The City categorizes its services in this plan as follows.
-
Roadway System: local roads, bridges, traffic signals and streetlights within the
City-owned road right of way for the provision of transportation services;
-
Active Transportation: sidewalks, on-road cycling facilities, and walkways within
the road right of way, as well as trails and multi-use paths in parks and natural
areas to support multiple modes of transportation;
-
Water Distribution: an underground network of linear water pipes and associated
assets that provide a safe and reliable distribution of water;
-
Wastewater Collection: a collection of sanitary sewer assets such as
underground sewer pipes and pumping stations for the collection of wastewater;
-
Stormwater Management: storm sewers, culverts, stormwater management
ponds, manufactured treatment devices and low impact development infrastructure
that manage and improve stormwater runoff;
-
Parks and Outdoor Recreation: assets that provide various amenities such as
sporting, recreation and leisure as well as trees and natural areas that support a
variety of ecological services;
-
Recreation Facilities: facilities and equipment, including community centres and
arenas that provide accessible recreation programs for all interests and ages;
-
Cultural Services: facilities including the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing
Arts and associated equipment, that provide a variety of arts and cultural
experiences;
-
Libraries: library facilities as well as physical and digital collections that provide
knowledge, experiences and resources for the community;
-
Protection Services: fleet, facilities and equipment that provide emergency
response and fire protection services to the community; and,
-
Administration Services: facilities, fleet and equipment that support City
services.
2
City of Richmond Hill 2024 Economic Fact Sheet
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
As Richmond Hill is a lower-tier municipality in York Region, it must adhere to York Region's
Official Plan. The City's Official Plan is currently being revised. It will provide an updated
future vision for Richmond Hill to 2051 that will accommodate population and employment
growth and guide land use and development over the long term. This update will continue to
help transform the community to serve the needs of all residents, businesses and visitors to
Richmond Hill.
York Region's 2022 Official Plan projects the Region's population and employment will
reach an estimated 2.06 million people and 989,200 jobs respectively by 2051. Within
that, Richmond Hill's population is forecast to reach an estimated 320,100 people while
employment is estimated to be 122,500 jobs by 2051.32
These growth projections and land use development policies that are part of the City's
Official Plan update are informing the City's various master plans, technical studies and
Development Charges Background Study. These provide the long-term plans and growth-
related infrastructure needs to implement the City's vision for the community. The City's
10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast then identifies the costs and timing for the required
infrastructure from these studies.
This 2025 Asset Management Plan outlines the growth-related capital expenditures
identified through the City's 2025 Capital Budget and Forecast to realize Richmond
Hill's vision for the community from master plans and studies. This aligns with O. Reg.
588/17 reporting requirements and achieves compliance. As new assets are built, they
will require future renewal as they deteriorate over time. This will place pressure on
future state of good repair capital budgets and financing needs that will be considered
through this plan as well as long-term asset management planning.
3
2022 York Region Official Plan (Office Consolidation June 2024)
Figure 2: City of Richmond Hill Population and Employment Growth Forecasts
*Current population and employment values based on Richmond Hill's 2024 Economic Fact Sheet (population assessed as of 2023 and
employment as of 2022). Growth forecasts based on the 2022 York Region Official Plan (Office Consolidation June 2024)
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.2
What's New in the 2025 Asset Management Plan?
The City's 2025 AM Plan maintains alignment with the previous 2024 AM Plan. The
data and analysis in this 2025 AM Plan is based on updated data for this year. In
addition, some key new elements in this 2025 AM Plan also include an evaluation of
proposed levels of service, as well as a financial strategy that compares forecasted
infrastructure needs to forecasted revenues.
Due to the milestones related to O. Reg. 588/17, the City is required to produce this 2025
AM Plan just one year following last year's 2024 AM Plan. The City's previous 2024 AM
Plan provided an overview of the City's entire service and asset portfolio, which is presented
again in this 2025 AM Plan.
Because of the short timeline between these two recent AM Plans, this 2025 plan was
deliberately developed to align closely and ensure continuity with the format, structure, and
analysis that was completed just a year ago in 2024. As a result, much of the content within
this document remains unchanged from the 2024 AM Plan. The development of this 2025
AM Plan is considered an update or refresh of the previous 2024 AM Plan, rather than an
entirely new exercise. Nevertheless, a number of changes were made for this 2025 AM
Plan, including refreshed asset data, new asset management analysis, and the incorporation
of additional new content to meet the requirements of the 2025 milestone of O. Reg. 588/17.
The following provides a summary of the changes that are included in this 2025 AM Plan:
-
All asset data has been updated and refreshed for 2025. Inventories have been
updated, replacement costs have been updated or inflated to today's dollars, and
condition data has been updated where new information has become available.
-
Levels of service for each asset group have been updated to include the City's
proposed levels of service. Proposed levels of service were established over a 27-
year time horizon (i.e. to 2051), which is over and above the 10-year time horizon
specified in O. Reg. 588/17. This longer time horizon was chosen to align with
the analysis completed in last year's 2024 AM Plan, which was in turn chosen to
align with the time horizons of the City's Master Plans and related studies. Asset
investment and performance needs for each year of the 27-year forecast is presented
in figures and commentary within the AM Plan and each of the Appendices. This
ensures that reporting for each of the forthcoming 10 years is included herein, to align
with the requirements of O. Reg. 588/17.
-
The Levels of Service section in each Appendix is reorganized for each service
area to reflect major asset themes. Both customer and associated technical levels
of service are presented together under the heading for each theme. Examples of
themes include asset scope and asset condition.
-
New commentary in each of the Appendices entitled "Establishing Proposed Levels
of Service" is included to provide an assessment of why the included proposed
levels of service are appropriate for the City. This section is provided to align with the
requirements of O. Reg. 588/17.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
-
The forecasts completed to identify asset needs have been revised to align with the
requirements to forecast proposed levels of service. The first forecasted scenario
is newly entitled "historical spending analysis". This analysis forecasts performance
associated with continuing recent spending trends into the future. This is intended to
provide a baseline understanding of the change in asset performance associated with
recent spending trends, projected forward. This is most closely aligned with a similar
analysis completed in 2024. The second forecast is now entitled "achieve proposed
levels of service". This forecast models the financial needs associated with achieving
the City's proposed levels of service targets into the future, including eliminating
backlog by 2051. This analysis is similar to the City's "maintain levels of service"
analysis that was completed in 2024.
-
A new financial strategy section is included in this 2025 AM Plan and aligns with
the requirements of O. Reg. 588/17. This section replaces the "Asset Investment
Strategy" section developed in the 2024 AM Plan. The strategy goes beyond the
previous asset investment plan by:
-
Detailing the different funding sources available to the City;
-
Projecting available funding over the next 10 years;
-
Comparing projected funding to asset needs required to achieve proposed
levels of service and identifying shortfalls (if any);
-
Providing strategies to address asset shortfalls, including strategies to adjust
lifecycle activities and mitigate risks associated with funding shortfalls;
-
Detail the City's approach to implementing this AM Plan, and monitoring it
annually; and,
-
Discussing the risks associated with the implementation of this AM Plan.
-
Each Appendix provides commentary related to specific lifecycle strategies and
mitigating risks associated with potential funding shortfalls. This commentary is
provided at a more granular level and addresses the specific needs and details of
each group of assets by type. While the financial strategy discusses these issues at a
high level, the Appendices provide details that are tailored to each major asset class/
type.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.3
Advancing Asset Management Planning at the City
The City is continuously improving its evidence-based asset management planning
capabilities to ensure proactive maintenance and strategic investments in assets
thereby supporting reliable services for the community.
The City of Richmond Hill recognizes the vital role its infrastructure assets play in delivering
essential services to the community. Managing the City's infrastructure assets requires a
robust asset management system, processes and plans focused on understanding and
planning for the timely renewals of them through informed investment decisions.
The City has been advancing its asset management system and processes as part of
best business practices aimed at maintaining the reliability of its assets at the lowest costs
to support community services. This has included improving asset condition technical
assessments, asset data collection and source systems around the City. Also in 2018, the
Province of Ontario introduced O. Reg. 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal
Infrastructure. This regulation requires municipalities to have Council-approved asset
management plans that achieve specific reporting requirements by stipulated phased
deadlines.
The City's asset management journey has focused on leveraging innovative
technologies and processes, utilizing the best available data through studies and
assessments, and implementing continuous improvements. This approach has
advanced the City's evidence-based asset management capabilities to support
infrastructure investment planning for service delivery while satisfying O. Reg. 588/17
regulatory reporting requirements.
Since 2018, advancements in the City's corporate asset management planning capabilities
have included implementing the following key foundational components:
1. The Strategic Asset Management Policy, which outlines the City's principles and
commitments to asset management planning guided by Richmond Hill's overarching
strategic plans, priorities and policies;
2. The Asset Management Strategy and Governance Framework, which are internal
documents that define the City's approach to asset management and its Asset
Management System, as well as identify the roles and responsibilities of staff groups
within the City's Asset Management System;
3. The Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) System, which is an internally developed
and maintained Decision Support System tool that aggregates various sources of
asset data, supports forecasting infrastructure investment needs and provides asset
management reporting analytics to satisfy regulatory reporting requirements;
4. The Asset Hierarchy and State of Infrastructure asset data, which is built into the
EAM and aligns the City's assets with the services they support;
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5. The three Technical Strategies: Lifecycle Management, Risk Management
and Levels of Service, which enable an evidence-based approach to forecasting
infrastructure renewal needs;
6. The City's 2021 Asset Management Plan, which provided a long-term plan for
managing the City's Core assets;
7. The City's inaugural 2023 State of Infrastructure Report, which assessed the City's
assets (Core and Non-Core);
8. The City's 2024 Asset Management Plan, which provided an updated long-term plan
for managing the City's assets; and,
9. This 2025 Asset Management Plan, which provides an update on the 2024 AM Plan,
and introduces the City's proposed levels of service and a financial strategy into asset
management analyses and long-term planning.
1.3.1
The Updated 2024 Strategic Asset Management Policy
The City first approved its Strategic Asset Management Policy in May 2019 as an initial
foundational step. It established Richmond Hill's commitments and principles for corporate
asset management planning. This policy achieved compliance with the first phase of O. Reg.
588/17 requiring municipalities to have an asset management policy by July 1, 2019.
In 2024, the Strategic Asset Management Policy was updated to reflect Richmond Hill's
improved and evolving business processes, policies, and plans. Per the updated 2024
Policy, the City of Richmond Hill's corporate asset management planning will be guided by
these principles:
1. Integrate asset management planning considerations with the City's Strategic
Plan, Official Plan and Master Plans/Studies to ensure the continued alignment
between asset decision-making and achieving the City's strategic priorities, desired
Levels of Service, and servicing growth.
Figure 3: The City's Advancements in Corporate Asset Management Planning Capabilities
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
2. Manage municipal infrastructure assets using an integrated business
approach that delivers the desired community services by planning and investing in
infrastructure to ensure asset reliability and minimizing risks.
3. Maximize the value of the City's infrastructure through prudent lifecycle activities
while considering financial affordability and sustainability.
4. Enable residents, businesses, and other interested parties to provide input in
asset management planning.
5. Coordinate planning for management of assets shared with other governmental
agencies, including the Regional Municipality of York, neighbouring municipalities,
and the Conservation Authorities.
6. Align asset management planning activities with water and wastewater financial
plans to support these critical municipal services are appropriately funded over the
long term.
7. Commit to consider the Asset Management Plan's forecasted asset investment
needs when developing municipal budgets and long-term financial plans.
8. Commit to consider risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to climate
change, when undertaking asset management planning and reporting needs.
This updated policy was approved by Council along with the 2024 Asset Management Plan
in June 2024, thereby satisfying the O. Reg. 588/17 requirement that each municipality must
update their Strategic Asset Management Policy at least once every five years.
The City's 2024 Strategic Asset Management Policy guides the City's corporate asset
management planning through the integration and alignment with business processes,
policies and priorities into fundamental principles to be followed. The Policy also
achieves compliance with O. Reg. 588/17.
Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.3.2
Asset Management Strategy and Governance Framework
The City's Asset Management Strategy and Governance Framework were first implemented
in 2019. These strategic documents define the City's Corporate Asset Management
program, and detail the internal corporate structure for guiding, implementing and delivering
that program.
The City's Asset Management Strategy articulates the City's commitments and
principles defined in the Asset Management Policy and describes the specific
approaches that the City will enact to build out its Asset Management System. It
also introduces the City's Asset Management Framework, which illustrates the key
processes of asset management at the City.
The following figure illustrates the City's Asset Management Framework. This Framework is
a visual representation of the processes that make up the key aspects and scope of asset
management at the City. The City's Asset Management Framework was adapted from the
Institute of Asset Management (IAM) - an international professional body dedicated to asset
management.
Figure 4: Asset Management Framework
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The City's Asset Management Governance Framework provides a consistent,
transparent and accountable internal staff working approach that has been
instrumental in progressing the City's asset management program forward. It facilitates
the effective management of assets by identifying the roles and responsibilities of the
key stakeholders involved in the City's asset management program.
A summary of the key processes, roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders
involved in the City's asset management planning process are identified in the City's Asset
Management Governance Framework, which is illustrated below. Richmond Hill's Executive
Lead, which O. Reg. 588/17 requires all municipalities to appoint, is the Commissioner of
Infrastructure and Engineering Services.
Figure 5: Asset Management Governance Framework
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.3.3
Implementation of the City's Enterprise Asset Management System (EAM)
In 2020, the City first developed and implemented its Enterprise Asset Management System
(EAM). The City's EAM is an application that was designed and functions as a decision
support software tool to help advance the City's evidence-based asset management
investment planning and reporting capabilities. The EAM was internally developed and
continues to be updated and maintained by City staff to enhance its functionality.
The EAM includes:
-
An asset register, which consolidates City-owned asset data including their key
attributes (e.g. condition, age, material, size, location, replacement values) from other
Richmond Hill source systems (e.g. GIS, Maximo, VFA);
-
Technical logic, related to the City's three technical strategies of Lifecycle
Management, Levels of Service and Risk Management. This logic is utilized by the
EAM to complete various data analytics and forecasting analyses to support various
asset management processes within the City, including this AM Plan; and,
-
Exporting and reporting functions to produce state of infrastructure reporting,
investment forecasting and capital priorities based on risk.
The EAM is an important foundational component of the City's Corporate Asset
Management program. It leverages innovative technological solutions and best available
information from technical studies to compute and provide:
-
A deeper understanding of asset behaviour;
-
Approaches to optimize asset lifecycles;
-
Recommendations of appropriate investment needs;
-
Long-term forecasting of asset needs and financial impacts;
-
Impacts on levels of service; and,
-
Risk considerations of asset failures.
Figure 6: The City's EAM Decision Support Software Program
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Since the initial deployment of the EAM in 2020, the City has been advancing the EAM's
capabilities through a number of recent improvements. These improvements, which are
maturing the City's EAM, are detailed in Section 1.4.
The EAM was instrumental in the development of this 2025 Asset Management Plan as well
as the preceding 2024 Asset Management Plan, 2023 State of Infrastructure Report and the
2021 Asset Management Plan.
The EAM is a Decision Support System that utilizes asset data from various sources
and applies the technical strategies (lifecycle, levels of service, and risk) to complete
analyses on the state of the City's infrastructure and forecast capital renewal needs to
support asset investment decisions. The EAM also provides reporting capabilities to
meet regulatory and other asset management-related reporting requirements. It played
a critical role in facilitating the completion of Asset Management Plans to meet the
requirements of O. Reg. 588/17.
1.3.4
Development of the Asset Hierarchy and Incorporation of State of Infrastructure Asset Data
into the EAM
The City maintains a variety of distinct asset inventories tailored to the uniqueness of the
various type of assets and business requirements of the divisions that manage them. These
are referred to as the Source Systems and include, for example, the City's GIS system, the
City's Computerized Maintenance Management System (IBM's Maximo), and other expert
systems. Data is also collected and organized from other technical asset data sources
including, for example, from condition assessment studies (e.g. inspection databases or
other Microsoft Excel files containing relevant asset information).
The EAM draws important asset information from all these source systems and centralizes
them into an Asset Register. To facilitate asset management analysis, the Asset Register
tracks both common and specific asset type attributes. Common asset attributes such as
Asset ID, condition, replacement value and construction date provide standardized asset
information. Specific asset type attributes such as size (e.g. length, width), material and
location are associated with specific asset types.
To understand the relationship between the City's assets and the services they provide,
an Asset Hierarchy was developed. The Asset Hierarchy aligned the City's assets to the
services they support to aid in linking investments in assets to their impact on services
for the community. The Asset Hierarchy has categorized the City's assets into 11 primary
services as illustrated in Figure 7. The City's assets are further classified as Core and Non-
Core as per the definitions provided by O. Reg. 588/17.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
In 2020, the EAM was populated with City-owned asset information for Core assets. This
was crucial for the development of the 2021 Asset Management Plan that met the July 1,
2022 O. Reg. 588/17 reporting deadline. Since then, the Core asset data has been updated
annually into the EAM to reflect new asset additions, disposals, updated condition results,
and refreshed replacement values to current standards.
In 2022, the City's Non-Core assets were captured from the various source systems
and incorporated into the EAM. This was integral to creating the inaugural 2023 State of
Infrastructure Report, which was the first time the City reported Core and Non-Core assets
consolidated into one report. Since then, the Non-Core asset data has also been updated
and populated annually into the EAM.
The development of the Asset Hierarchy and annual updates to asset data within the
EAM established a standardized corporate framework for the consistent tracking,
analysis and reporting of assets across multiple services. It also provided the
foundation for connecting updated asset condition data to the City's lifecycle models,
to identify the impact of lifecycle treatments on Levels of Service within the EAM.
This has allowed for the development of this 2025 Asset Management Plan and to
support the City's Capital Budgeting process by providing a line of sight between asset
renewals and their impacts on community services.
Figure 7: City-owned Assets by Service (Asset Hierarchy)
*Core assets defined in Ontario Regulation 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.3.5
Development and Implementation of the Three Technical Strategies for Assets into the EAM
Another fundamental step in the City advancing its Corporate Asset Management program
was the development and implementation of the following three key asset management
technical strategies:
- The Lifecycle Strategies model asset deteriorations over their life and forecast the
types, timing and estimated costs of treatments that should be performed to maintain
their condition and reliability to meet the City's defined Levels of Service (LOS).
Further details on the City's Lifecycle Strategies are in Chapter 4 as well as in the
Appendices.
- The Risk Management Strategy includes frameworks that evaluate assets' likelihood
of failure over time and the potential consequences (i.e. criticality) should that asset
fail. This strategy supports the prioritization of lifecycle asset investment decisions
when funding is limited to promote a balance between LOS, risk, and budget
constraints. Further details on the City's Risk Management Strategy and framework
are in Chapter 4 as well as in the Appendices.
- The Levels of Service (LOS) Strategy formalized the asset-based performance
metrics to be evaluated and tracked (e.g. pavement quality of the City's roads) that
impact the City's overall level of service. This strategy provided a line of sight from
the LOS that the City intends to deliver through to the day-to-day activities carried
out by staff to manage assets. It influences the lifecycle strategies by forecasting the
resultant impact on LOS from the prioritized asset renewal actions. Further details on
the City's LOS Strategy are provided in Chapter 3 and related asset performance is
reported in the Appendices.
Figure 8: Technical Strategies Interactions
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
These strategies were developed through a series of workshops with the City's working
group of technical subject matter experts (SMEs) and engineering consultants providing best
industry practices.
These three technical strategies were implemented into the EAM for Core assets in 2020
and for Non-Core assets in 2022. Together, they formed the foundation, or the "logic engine"
for the EAM to forecast suggested asset investment renewals and rehabilitation decisions.
The three technical strategies: Lifecycle Management, Risk Management and LOS,
empower the EAM to formulate evidence-based asset renewal recommendations
that strike the appropriate balance between maintaining LOS, minimizing risk, and
considering costs and limited financing. These strategies were instrumental in allowing
the City to produce this 2025 Asset Management Plan to achieve compliance with O.
Reg. 588/17 and support the City's Capital Budgeting process through assisting capital
programming.
1.3.6
2021 Asset Management Plan
In June 2021, City Council approved Richmond Hill's 2021
Asset Management Plan, one year ahead of the July 1, 2022
deadline in Ontario Regulation 588/17.
This plan represented a significant advancement of the
City's corporate asset management capabilities. It provided a
standardized understanding of the City's Core infrastructure
assets (state of infrastructure), details on the lifecycle activities
that the City undertakes to manage those assets (lifecycle
strategies), reporting on how well those actions are working
(LOS), and a long-term forecast of the financial needs related
to maintain the assets to provide City services (capital
investment forecasting, risk and gaps).
The Core assets assessed included City-owned roads,
structures, water distribution, wastewater collection and
stormwater management assets. The City also included active
transportation assets and recreation facilities in the scope. The
2021 Asset Management Plan along with the EAM, assisted the
City's 2022 Capital Budget and Forecast through suggesting
Core infrastructure investment needs for the development
of state of good repair capital projects. This advanced the
City's evidence-based corporate asset management planning
approaches and established a base for future improvements
and continuous learning to build from.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.3.7
2023 State of Infrastructure Report
The City's inaugural 2023 State of Infrastructure Report,
which was approved by Council in June 2023, was the next
advancement of the City's corporate asset management
capabilities.
This State of Infrastructure Report provided an assessment of
City-owned Non-Core assets into one report for the first time,
along with an updated summary of the City's Core assets.
This included updated asset inventories, replacement values,
conditions, and estimated service lives (ESL). This report
facilitated an improved line of sight of how asset condition,
lifecycle investments, and service levels evolve over time from the
addition of new assets, deterioration of existing assets, and prior
capital renewals. The updated asset information in this Report
and the EAM also assisted the City's 2024 Capital Budget by
providing refreshed evidence-based data to support infrastructure
investment needs.
1.3.8
2024 Asset Management Plan
In June of 2024, City Council approved Richmond Hill's 2024
Asset Management Plan in alignment with the July 1, 2024
milestone of Ontario Regulation 588/17.
The City's 2024 Asset Management Plan reported on the City's
entire portfolio of infrastructure assets (i.e. Core and Non-Core
assets) in an AM Plan for the first time. This plan built on the work
that was done to the City's asset data and internal systems to
produce a financial forecast that articulated the costs to maintain
current levels of service into the long term.
Much of the work completed for the 2024 Asset Management Plan
laid the foundation for this 2025 Asset Management Plan. The two
documents are aligned closely, and many of the methodologies
and analysis used for 2024 have carried into this 2025 AM Plan.
The analysis completed for the 2024 AM Plan assisted the City
in developing its 2025 Capital Budget and Forecast, and set the
stage for continued integration of asset management planning
and capital budget development/forecasting moving forward. This
underpins the City's continual commitment to data-driven and
evidence-based decision-making.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.4
Maturing the Enterprise Asset Management System
Since the EAM's initial deployment in 2020, the City's corporate asset management
journey has included consistently advancing the EAM as a top priority to improve its
evidence-based decisions and reporting capabilities.
With the recent improvements to the City's asset management data, processes and systems
as previously described, the EAM has been further maturing and progressing towards
realizing its full potential. The EAM was instrumental in identifying the funding needs
associated with providing the proposed levels of service identified in this 2025 AM Plan.
The asset forecasting built into the EAM enables the City to assess the effects of changing
funding on proposed service levels, to aid in developing a lifecycle and financial strategy that
can assist in making the most efficient use of available funding. The EAM's general process
is described in the figure below.
Determines current asset performance by utilizing asset condition and/or age
from the EAM Asset Register
Forecasts changes in asset condition and performance over a time horizon by
applying deterioration models per the EAM Lifecycle Strategies
Identifies the required lifecycle capital treatments once the assets'
performance reaches the intervention and LOS thresholds as defined in the
EAM's LOS and Lifecycle Strategies
Forecasts the annual asset renewal investment costs over the forecasted
time horizon using the established cost for each capital intervention based on
current industry pricing
Estimates the Likelihood of Failure, Consequence of Failure and Risk Score
for each asset, as per the City's Risk Management Strategy
Utilizes the Risk scores to prioritize the optimal timing of asset renewals within
various constrained funding and budget scenarios
Analyzes the impact on the asset LOS over the forecasted time horizon from
those prioritized investment renewals to identify the costs associated with
achieving proposed LOS
The EAM's data-driven infrastructure analytics forms the foundation of this 2025
Asset Management Plan and contributes towards supporting the City's annual Capital
Budgeting process and corporate goals and priorities.
Figure 9: The EAM's Asset Management Logic
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.5
Scope and Purpose of the 2025 Asset Management Plan
The 2025 Asset Management Plan includes an assessment of Core and Non-Core
assets that achieves compliance with the July 1, 2025 milestone of O. Reg. 588/17
and will support the 2026 Capital Budget Process and the City's strategic priorities.
The scope of this AM Plan includes an assessment of City-owned assets called the State
of the Infrastructure; an assessment of the City's current Levels of Service and associated
performance; established proposed levels of service; the lifecycle activities required to
achieve proposed levels of service; and, an Asset Investment and Financial Strategy that
forecasts investment needs to achieve proposed levels of service, assesses infrastructure
shortfalls and details how the City will implement this Asset Management Plan. As part of
last year's 2024 AM Plan, the City developed a five-year continuous improvement plan,
which is also included herein.
The purpose of this 2025 Asset Management Plan is to:
- Support the long-term stewardship of the City's assets while contributing to the
City's strategic priorities and vision for the community;
- Inform capital programming for the City's upcoming 2026 Capital Budget and
Forecast development; and,
- Achieve compliance with the July 1, 2025 O. Reg. 588/17 requirements.
Figure 10: Scope of the 2025 Asset Management Plan
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.6
Informing Asset Renewal Needs to Assist Capital Programming
The updated asset information outlined in this 2025 Asset Management Plan
will support the City's 2026 Capital Budgeting process. This will be achieved by
forecasting up-to-date evidence-based infrastructure investment requirements, tied
to proposed levels of service, thereby aiding in effective capital programming.
The City proactively undertakes a wide range of ongoing condition assessments of its
assets using various technical approaches that are specific to each asset's function and
characteristics. Generally, condition assessments involve monitoring and inspecting assets
to determine the degree of deterioration and/or deficiencies, the functioning of the asset
relative to its design, any potential impacts to service, and age relative to its estimated
service life. Examples would include inspecting roads with technology that collects field data
to analyze and rate pavement condition; completing closed circuit television inspections
of sanitary and storm sewer pipes to identify structural defects; and, completing building
condition assessments for the City's facilities.
After the condition assessments are completed, the appropriate lifecycle treatments such
as maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and/or replacement needs, costs and timing are
identified. This ensures there is a proactive plan for the renewal of assets so they can
continue to provide services to the community.
Understanding the most up-to-date condition, projected deterioration over time, and the
appropriate lifecycle activity needs of the City's assets allows for the development of an
investment plan and financial strategy. All this information is also stored in the City's source
systems and the EAM.
This 2025 Asset Management Plan reflects the most up-to-date asset condition assessment
results. Updating the City's asset information regularly and using that information to
proactively inform capital programming is an asset management best practice.
The City's EAM includes lifecycle models that generally reflect predicted asset deterioration
as well as recommended treatments based on the technical condition assessments and
engineering principles. As a result, the EAM can forecast suggested capital investment
needs that are reflective of these for the 2025 Asset Management Plan, including those
that would achieve the City's proposed levels of service identified within this AM Plan. This
information, underpinned by the technical asset assessments from consultant reports,
assists in developing capital projects for the City's annual Capital Budgets. The EAM
then relates the suggested asset investments into key outcomes such as the updated
infrastructure backlog of needs, the amount of assets that are not meeting the City's
performance objectives, impacts to condition-based service levels (e.g. changes in road
pavement quality), and the degree of improvement in asset functionality for service reliability.
This 2025 Asset Management Plan represents the next advancement of the City's
corporate asset management planning capabilities. By including an estimated long-
term asset renewal forecast tied to proposed levels of service, it will assist with the
development of capital programming and capital budgets, which is a best business
practice that places the City among leading municipalities.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.7
Achieving Asset Management Regulatory Requirements
This 2025 Asset Management Plan achieves compliance with the July 1, 2025
milestone of O. Reg. 588/17. It also supports the City's upper-level government
funding requests as they require approved municipal asset management plans.
The Province of Ontario enacted two major legislative requirements that gave rise to the
need for Ontario municipalities to develop Council-approved Asset Management Plans:
1. The Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015, which came into effect in 2015.
This required Ontario municipalities to have approved Asset Management Plans in
order to receive provincial funding. It also set the stage for the upcoming regulation that
standardized asset management reporting requirements for Ontario municipalities.
2. O. Reg. 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure, which
came into effect on January 1, 2018. This regulation outlined a set of standardized
asset management reporting requirements to be achieved through Council-approved
municipal Asset Management Plans.
Figure 11: Overview of O. Reg. 588/17 Requirements and Timeline
Page 22
Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
As highlighted in Figure 11 above, the City's robust asset management processes and
systems allowed the City to produce a Council-approved Asset Management Policy and
Plans that achieved compliance with the phases of the O. Reg. 588/17 requirements:
-
The City's initially approved Asset Management Policy (in May 2019) met the O. Reg.
588/17 requirement to have a council-approved policy by July 1, 2019. Per O. Reg.
588/17, every municipality must review and update their policy at least once every five
years. The City's updated 2024 Asset Management Policy was approved by Council
in June of 2024 in line with this requirement;
-
The City's approved 2021 Asset Management Plan (in June 2021) achieved
compliance one year ahead of the July 1, 2022 milestone of O. Reg. 588/17;
-
The City's 2024 Asset Management Plan achieved compliance with the requirements
of the July 1, 2024 milestone of O. Reg. 588/17; and,
-
This 2025 Asset Management Plan achieves compliance with the requirements of the
July 1, 2025 milestone of O. Reg. 588/17.
The City of Richmond Hill is committed to transparency and considering feedback from
residents and stakeholders. This 2025 Asset Management Plan is accessible and available
through the City of Richmond Hill's website (RichmondHill.ca). Supporting documents, such
as the Council-approved Asset Management Policy, as well as past Asset Management
Plans are also publicly available on the City's website as per O. Reg. 588/17.
Main Municipal Offices
Page 23
Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
1.8
Supporting the City's Vision and Strategic Priorities
Richmond Hill's asset management planning process and this 2025 Asset
Management Plan play a contributing role in helping the City achieve its strategic
priorities and vision for the community.
Since the approval of the City's previous Council Strategic
Priorities for 2020-2022, a new term of Council was elected in
2022 along with the emergence of new challenges, opportunities
and strengths that warranted an updated Strategic Plan. In
February 2024, City Council approved Richmond Hill's new
2024-2027 Strategic Plan, which established the vision, mission
and values followed by three pillars and a set of priorities and
actions that formed the road map for the City to achieve a
collective vision for Richmond Hill.
Figure 12: Richmond Hill's 2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City,
its residents and businesses now and in the future.
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in
collaboration with the community, including planning for climate change
mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed
participation and to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective
decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community
through programs, services and events.
- Build a workforce for tomorrow to ensure that expertise and continuity is in
place to deliver on the City's aspirations for the future.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the
City's long term financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental
and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset
to support innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders,
businesses, the private sector and colleagues.
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Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
This 2025 Asset Management Plan aligns directly with Pillar 3 by enabling evidence-based
capital investment decisions based on best asset management planning practices while
considering financial sustainability. It provides the set of practical tools and the road map for
how the recommended investment renewals into the City's infrastructure are supporting
Richmond Hill's provision of services and the three pillars of the most recent Strategic Plan.
In addition to supporting these three strategic pillars, this 2025 Asset Management Plan
also aligns with and complements other strategic objectives from master plans and studies
that have implications for the City's assets and the services they support. Implementing and
sustaining the consolidated vision for Richmond Hill requires a prudent long-term plan to
manage the City's infrastructure assets, which this 2025 AM Plan provides.
The table on the following page summarizes how this 2025 Asset Management Plan aligns
with other master plans and studies, while more granular descriptions are included in each
of the 11 service Appendices.
Russell Farm Park
Page 25
Introduction | 2025 Asset Management Plan
City Document
Alignment with the 2025 Asset Management Plan
Official Plan
The Official Plan focuses on land use and contains policies to manage the growth of
the community to 2051. Together with the Master Plans and Development Charges
Background Study, the Official Plan informs the future demands on the City's
infrastructure to accommodate the projected growth, which are necessary inputs for asset
management planning. The City is currently updating its Official Plan.
Climate Change
Framework
(2020)
The Climate Change Framework guides Richmond Hill's climate change mandate and
ensures a coordinated approach to taking climate action. Among the six climate goals
outlined in the framework is one which pertains to applying a climate change lens to
asset management planning. This 2025 Asset Management Plan integrates actions
associated with this goal, with more progress to come.
Service Area-
Specific Master
Plans and
Strategies
The City has completed a series of approved service area master plans and studies
that outline their respective strategic objectives and recommended asset investment
requirements to achieve them. These are considered in asset management planning.
Some of the key master plans and studies include:
- Transportation Master Plan;
- Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan;
- Parks Plan;
- Urban Forest Management Plan;
- Environment Strategy;
- Community Energy and Emissions Plan;
- Recreation and Culture Plan;
- Fire Master Plan;
- Richmond Hill Public Library Strategic Plan; and,
- Richmond Hill Public Library Facilities Master Plan.
Water and
Wastewater
Financial Plan
(2024)
Financial Plans for Water and Wastewater services are a requirement under the Safe
Drinking Water Act and provide details on the financial self-sustainability of the systems.
The Financial Plan informs the development of the operating budget and capital forecast
along with the funding strategies for Water and Wastewater assets. This 2025 Asset
Management Plan supports and aligns with the City's 2024 Water and Wastewater
Financial Plan and incorporates results from that plan into its financial strategy.
Stormwater
Management
Financial Plan
(2024)
The Stormwater Management Financial Plan was updated to revise the City's stormwater
management rates for properties within the City, reflecting upcoming operating and
capital needs for Stormwater Management assets. The 2025 Asset Management Plan
supports and aligns with the City's 2024 Stormwater Management Financial Plan and
incorporates results from that plan into its financial strategy.
Development
Charges
Background
Study (2024)
The City's Development Charges Background Study details Richmond Hill's growth-
related infrastructure expansion needs that are supported by Official Plan and service
area-specific master plans and studies. This 2025 Asset Management Plan includes the
growth-related infrastructure requirements, and their future ongoing renewal needs.
Financial
Sustainability
Strategy (2020)
The Financial Sustainability Strategy outlines the City's approach to managing its capital
program and provides a financing plan to sustain its infrastructure in a prudent manner
that is affordable. This 2025 Asset Management Plan informs and is a key contributor to
the development of the Financial Sustainability Strategy.
Tangible Capital
Assets (TCA)
Policy (2017)
The City's TCA Policy defines the capitalization policies, approach, and thresholds
where resources would be considered a capital asset that are reported on its financial
statements in compliance with PSAB 3150. This 2025 Asset Management Plan includes
capital assets that are defined by and aligned with the City's TCA Policy.
Table 1: Alignment of the 2025 Asset Management Plan with Master Plans and Studies
Page 26
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Chapter 2
State of the Infrastructure
Oak Ridges Library
Page 27
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
2.0
State of the Infrastructure
2.1
Assessing Asset Inventories, Values, Condition and Age
The City's assets have an estimated replacement value of $12.8 billion and are
on average in Good to Very Good condition; however, they will require ongoing
investments to maintain them in a state of good repair and sustain reliable services.
Since the early 1980s, Richmond Hill has experienced significant growth. To accommodate
that growth, infrastructure such as roads; structures; active transportation; parks; buildings
(e.g. community centres, arenas, libraries and fire stations); and, underground networks that
carry drinking water, stormwater and wastewater were constructed. Other supporting assets
such as fleet and equipment were also acquired to support service delivery.
Presently, the City of Richmond Hill owns and manages a wide range of complex assets
that deliver an array of services to the community. As these infrastructure assets age and
deteriorate over time, they will require ongoing renewal to ensure that they continue to
provide reliable service to the community. The first step towards better understanding these
needs, is to develop an understanding of the present state of these assets. This includes
understanding their replacement costs, condition, age and expected service life. This is
referred to in the asset management discipline as the 'State of the Infrastructure'.
In compliance with O. Reg. 588/17, the City reports the State of Infrastructure for its asset
portfolio, which includes the following information. This information is grouped by major
service area within the following section, and also provided in more detail in each of the
service Appendices.
Ed Sackfield Arena
Page 28
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Inventory
The inventory of the City's assets is consolidated into the Asset Register within the EAM
from the various source systems across the City. Each asset is assigned to its appropriate
category in the Asset Hierarchy, based on the service it supports, along with all of its
important attributes, which may include quantity, size, length, material type, location, etc.
This allows the City to report the inventory of City-owned assets associated with each
service.
Current Replacement Value (CRV)
The current replacement value (CRV) of the City's assets is based on the estimated cost
to replace them at their current price based on industry contract pricing. For linear assets
such as roads, active transportation and watermains for instance, the replacement value
is based on unit cost that is dependent on relevant asset attributes such as size (length,
diameter, width) and material. The replacement values for other assets like facilities are
derived from the sum of building system-level items. For fleet and equipment, replacement
costs are based on acquisition purchase costs of a new asset. Estimates for soft costs (e.g.
design, contingency) are also included in the replacement values, ensuring that CRV for
assets best represents the costs the City would experience to acquire or replace an existing
asset with a new one.
Average Age and Estimated Service Life (ESL)
The ages of the City's assets are based on when these assets were constructed, installed
and/or purchased. These values are paired to asset data and included in the City's EAM
Asset Register. To calculate the average age of a group of the City's assets, the City
weights the individual asset age values by their replacement values. To supplement
reporting on age, the City also reports on the estimated service lives of its assets. When
looking at a group of assets, the City also calculates a weighted average estimated
service life, which it compares to asset age, to provide a general understanding of how
much life is consumed and is expected to remain for a group of assets.
Condition
The City uses a variety of different technical condition assessments to assess the condition
of assets that are appropriate for their unique characteristics and function. When technical
condition assessments are not available, the City uses the asset age and remaining service
life to determine condition. The condition assessment results are then assigned into one
of five (5) standard Corporate Asset Management condition categories with an associated
Letter Grade (from A to F).
Page 29
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Asset Condition Characteristics
Very Good
A
"Fit for the Future": New or recently rehabilitated. Very low risk of
failure.
Good
B
"Good for Now": Minimal signs of deterioration. Low risk of failure.
Fair
C
"Adequate for Now but May Require Attention": Additional signs of
deterioration. Some failures could potentially occur.
Poor
D
"Declining Condition": Probability of asset failures increasing.
Reduced ability to provide the service.
Very Poor
F
"At Risk": Assets have exceeded their service life and require
attention and appropriate lifecycle treatment.
The City's approach for assessing the state of its infrastructure provides a common and
transparent understanding of City-owned assets so they can be analyzed, compared, and
reported consistently across all services.
Using this approach, the City's infrastructure assets have an estimated 2025 replacement
value of $12.8 billion, which represents a $1.4 billion or 12% increase over 2024 ($11.4
billion) due to:
-
Cost pressures related to price escalations and market challenges ($1.2 billion); and
-
Net new assets added to the City's inventory ($0.2 billion).
Cost pressures were established using a combination of analyses, including updating
replacement costs using recent pricing references available to the City, or inflating past
replacement costs using construction cost price indices. It is important to note that inflation
in the City's replacement cost is not reflective of general consumer price inflation, as it
is reflective of changes in costs that are specific to the materials, labour and other costs
related to construction work and/or the procurement of the specific assets the City owns.
The overall average condition of the City's infrastructure assets in 2025 remained Very Good
(letter grade A), which is relatively unchanged from 2024. The City is a relatively young
municipality, and therefore its assets are on average, typically in the earlier stages of their
life.
Although the majority of the City's assets are in Good to Very Good condition and
are relatively young, ongoing investments will be required to maintain them as they
deteriorate over time. Assets in Fair, Poor, and Very Poor condition will require
rehabilitation and/or replacement. As new asset inventories grow over time and
yearly inflationary pressures continue, the future renewal needs are anticipated to
increase over time. Understanding the City's State of Infrastructure is the first step
in understanding these renewal needs and developing the corresponding asset
management plans and investment strategies.
Table 2: Corporate Asset Management Condition Rating System
Page 30
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 14: Asset Condition Profile
Very Good
$8.46 B
66%
Good
$2.56 B
20%
Fair
$1.20 B
10%
Poor
$0.40 B
3%
Very Poor
$0.15 B
1%
Figure 13: Asset Replacement Value
Wastewater
$3.01 B
23%
Stormwater
$3.27 B
26%
Water
$2.82 B
22%
Roadway
$1.99 B
16%
Active Transportation
$0.50 B
4%
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
$0.47 B
4%
Recreation
$0.36 B
3%
Administration
$0.15 B
1%
Libraries
$0.10 B
1%
Protection
$0.06 B
0.4%
Cultural
$0.05 B
0.4%
Total Asset
Valuation
$12.8 billion
(2025)
Average Asset
Condition
A (Very Good)
(2025)
Trend
(2024 to 2025)
Trend
(2024 vs 2025)
$11.4 billion (2024)
Cost pressures
($1.2 billion)
New assets
($0.2 billion)
$12.8 billion
(2025)
Page 31
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
27
23
26
31
25
23
30
16
22
15
28
15
26
94
43
46
13
21
45
24
17
24
42
49
120
74
71
36
51
61
46
32
52
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Roadway System
Active Transportation
Water Distribution
Wastewater Collection
Stormwater Management
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Recreation Facilities
Cultural Services
Libraries
Protection Services
Administration Services
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
Figure 15: Asset Condition by Service
B (Good)
B (Good)
A (Very Good)
A (Very Good)
A (Very Good)
B (Good)
B (Good)
B (Good)
B (Good)
B (Good)
C (Fair)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Roadway System
Active Transportation
Water Distribution
Wastewater Collection
Stormwater Management
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Recreation Facilities
Cultural Services
Libraries
Protection Services
Administration Services
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Very Poor
Avg. Condition
Figure 16: Asset Average Age and Remaining Service Life (Years)
Page 32
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
2.2
State of Infrastructure Summary
Roadway System
1,225 lane-km Roads
14,134 Streetlights
32 Traffic Signals and Beacons
57 Bridges and Road Culverts
A mix of Fleet and Equipment
Replacement Value
$1.99 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
27
15
Average
Condition
B
(Good)
Active Transportation
175 km Bicycle Lanes/Cycle Tracks
709 km Sidewalks/Walkways
16 km Multi-Use Paths
140 km Trails
3 km (116) Outdoor Crossings
Replacement Value
$0.50 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
23
26
Average
Condition
B
(Good)
Water Distribution
676 km Watermains
53,296 Water Meters / AMI Collectors
A mix of Fleet and Equipment
Replacement Value
$2.82 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
26
94
Average
Condition
A
(Very Good)
Wastewater Collection
619 km Sanitary Sewers
6 Pumping Stations
Replacement Value
$3.01 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
31
43
Average
Condition
A
(Very Good)
Stormwater Management
623 km Storm Sewers
1,145 Storm Culverts
108 Stormwater Management Facilities
118 Manufactured Treatment Devices
90 Low Impact Developments
A mix of Fleet and Equipment
Replacement Value
$3.27 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
25
46
Average
Condition
A
(Very Good)
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
171 Parks
528 Outdoor Recreation Amenities
8 Supporting Facilities
28 Parking Lots and Illumination
73,199 Street and Park Trees
889 ha Natural Areas
A mix of Fleet and Equipment
Replacement Value
$0.47 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
23
13
Average
Condition
B
(Good)
Page 33
State of the Infrastructure | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Recreation Facilities
11 Community Centres
5 Arenas
1 Public Education / Outreach Facility
13 Supplemental Facilities
20 Parking Lots and Illumination
A mix of Recreation Equipment
A mix of Fleet and Equipment
Replacement Value
$0.36 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
30
21
Average
Condition
B
(Good)
Cultural Services
1 Theatre
1 Museum/Heritage Centre
1 Art Gallery
4 Parking Lots and Illumination
A mix of Equipment
Replacement Value
$0.05 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
16
45
Average
Condition
B
(Good)
Libraries
4 Library Facilities
4 Parking Lots and Illumination
A mix of Library Equipment
A mix of Library Collections
Replacement Value
$0.10 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
22
24
Average
Condition
B
(Good)
Protection Services
6 Fire Stations
6 Parking Lots and Illumination
43 Fire Fleet
A mix of Fire Equipment
Replacement Value
$0.06 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
15
17
Average
Condition
B
(Good)
Administration Services
2 Office Buildings
8 Other Buildings
6 Parking Lots and Illumination
A mix of IT Equipment
A mix of Fleet and Equipment
Replacement Value
$0.15 Billion
Average Age and Service Life
28
24
Average
Condition
C
(Fair)
Page 34
Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Chapter 3
Levels of Service
Canyon Hill Avenue
Page 35
Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
3.0
Levels of Service
3.1
Evaluating Levels of Service
The City's Levels of Service Framework was implemented to monitor current asset
performance and to assist in articulating the current levels of service as well as
the proposed levels of service that the City plans to provide to the community.
Levels of Service are tied to the City's lifecycle strategy to connect service levels to
investment needs to inform decision-making.
Levels of Service (LOS) are key business drivers that play an important role in asset
management planning. Understanding how assets are performing and the impact on the
services they are providing to the community inform asset lifecycle investment decisions to
ensure that the City continues to deliver expected service levels.
This Chapter provides an overview of the City's Corporate Asset Management LOS
framework and summarizes the asset-based community and technical LOS metrics and their
current performance. It answers the question, 'how are the City's assets performing?'
In response to O. Reg. 588/17, the City first developed its Corporate Asset Management
LOS framework in 2020 as part of the three foundational technical strategies as detailed
in Chapter 1. The City's LOS Framework is based on the requirements of O. Reg. 588/17.
The regulation contains several levels of service that are prescribed for Core assets. The
City has also included additional levels of service and performance measures that capture
operational business needs and the vision for the community derived from master plans
and studies. The City's LOS framework provides a line of sight between the service levels
that the City proposes to deliver through to the day-to-day activities carried out by staff
to manage assets to realize strategic priorities and master plans. This framework also
included specific LOS performance measures that could be quantified, monitored and
tracked consistently over time. The levels of service are subdivided into two main types.
The first - Community LOS - are intended to inform both the City and the general public's
understanding of the services provided by the City's infrastructure. The second - Technical
LOS - articulate the technical performance measures that the City monitors to help in
managing that infrastructure.
The Corporate Asset Management LOS framework measures current asset performance,
and defines and identifies the point where assets or systems are no longer meeting their
expected LOS. By defining asset LOS performance in this manner, targets or thresholds can
be used to tie to lifecycle strategies and recommended asset renewals. These are described
in the upcoming chapters of this 2025 Asset Management Plan.
Figure 17 illustrates the City's Corporate Asset Management LOS framework.
Page 36
Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The key components of this LOS framework operate as follows to provide that holistic
understanding of how the assets are performing in support of City services:
-
Strategic LOS: This represents the overarching strategic service vision for each of
the City's 11 services. They were developed from the program-specific master plans,
studies, and policies as well as are aligned with the City's Strategic Plan (2024-2027)
and Climate Change Framework (2020). For example, the City's Roadway System's
Strategic LOS is to provide a well-connected, sustainable, multi-modal and inclusive
network for all users including motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
-
Service Attribute: This describes the area of focus that each performance measure
is addressing. Service Attributes are developed for both customer and technical LOS
measures, and help connect them to the strategic LOS by using common simple
themes. The Service Attributes include attributes such as: Quality, Scope, Reliability
and Environmental.
-
Community LOS: These are the qualitative service measures that describe the
services being provided to the community in support of the overall Strategic LOS.
O. Reg. 588/17 prescribes specific community LOS for Core assets that municipalities
must include in their asset management plans. For Non-Core assets, municipalities
can develop any custom community LOS tailored to their respective visions. For
example, one of the Community LOS measures for the City's Roadway System is a
description of the road network and its level of connectivity for commuters.
-
Technical LOS: These represent the quantitative measures applied at the asset
level to assess the performance of assets in support of the Community LOS. Similar
to Community LOS, O. Reg. 588/17 outlines specific Technical LOS for Core assets.
For Non-Core assets, municipalities can develop any Technical LOS they prefer. For
example, one of the Technical LOS measures for the City's facilities is the average
Facility Condition Index.
Figure 17: Level of Service Framework
Page 37
Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
-
Current Measures and Performance: These are descriptions of the individual
measures along with the current performance values, which form the basis of the
City's technical levels of service. Each of the City's 11 services has developed a
collection of these measures along with their current performance. These are used for
assessing how the City's individual assets may be performing in support of Technical
and Community LOS. For example, the City's Roadway System has an average
Pavement Quality Index of 78, which represents an average asset condition of
"Good".
-
Measurement Type: There are two types of performance measures. The first are
those that are required by O. Reg. 588/17 for Core assets. The second type are
City-defined measures which are meant to capture the operational business needs to
assist the City's decision-making process. Both types of performance measures are
identified in each of the 11 service Appendices.
The City's Corporate Asset Management LOS framework aligns the strategic service
goals developed from master plans and studies with individual asset-based LOS
performance measures for each of the 11 services. This allows for an understanding of
the current performance of the City's assets, relative to its strategic service goal. It also
informs evidence-based decisions and lifecycle investment strategies that are required
to achieve the City's proposed LOS over the next 10 years, in compliance with the July
1, 2025 milestone of O. Reg. 588/17.
3.2
Proposed Levels of Service
The City's assets are performing as intended and are supporting reliable services
to the community. The City's strategy in selecting proposed levels of service is to
ensure it continues to provide services to the level that the community is used to and
expects.
An important new provision in this 2025 Asset Management Plan is the City's inclusion
and assessment of proposed levels of service. In preparation for the development of this
AM Plan, the City reviewed all service-level measures that were reported in its most recent
2024 Asset Management Plan and established proposed service levels for these measures
that represent its commitment to provide services that continue to meet the community's
expectations.
Going beyond the requirements of O. Reg. 588/17, the City has detailed the service
levels that it proposes to provide over the next 27 years (i.e. to 2051) in this AM Plan.
The regulation requires reporting for the next 10 years only. Note that the City's proposed
levels of service for the next 10 years are also provided in this AM Plan, through the
various performance forecast asset investment needs figures that accompany the asset
management and forecasting analysis for each service area. These can be found for each
service area in the Appendices.
Page 38
Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The City's proposed service levels were established based on an assessment of the
following:
-
Long-term sustainability: the City has selected levels of service that are intended to
ensure that services can be provided and assets can be maintained in a sustainable
manner in both the near and long term.
-
Minimizing Risk: the City has proposed levels of service that ensure that risks are
mitigated and kept low.
-
Achievability: the City has proposed levels of service that it is able to achieve.
-
Affordability: the City has considered the affordability in the context of its proposed
levels of service. In some instances, the City has identified that a funding gap exists.
As a result, the City's financial strategy, as well as each Appendix, discusses options
to balance affordability with the other factors mentioned above, and provides an
assessment of strategies that the City can evaluate moving forward.
Additional detail pertaining to these factors is provided in the Appendices to this AM Plan.
Each Appendix contains a section entitled "Future Outlook - Establishing Proposed Levels
of Service", which explores in detail the assessment of proposed levels of service and why
they are appropriate for the City of Richmond Hill based on the aforementioned factors.
The following section provides a summary of select service level measures, the City's
current performance, and proposed levels of service. Additional measures and detail on
service-specific levels of service are provided in the Appendices.
Avenue Road and Merrylynn Drive
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Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
3.3
Technical Levels of Service Summary
Roadway System
Current LOS:
- Average Pavement Quality Index (PQI) above 75
- Percentage of assets in Fair or better condition
is high (most asset categories above 95%)
- 100% of bridges and culverts Fair or better
condition and no structures contain loading
restrictions
- Greater than 75% of streetlights equipped with
LED fixtures
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain condition of most assets
- Increase number of assets according to master
plans
Active Transportation
Current LOS:
- Percentage of assets within service life above
90%
- Sidewalks and trails are in Good condition
- Pedestrian bridges are on average in Very Good
condition
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain condition of most assets
- Increase number of assets according to master
plans
Water Distribution
Current LOS:
- Percentage of assets in Fair or better condition
is high (greater than 95%)
- Watermains on average in Very Good condition
- No boil water advisories
- Service outages are generally low
- 4.9 watermain breaks per 100 km
- 33 watermain breaks in 2024
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain condition of assets
- Decrease service outage times
- Decrease watermains breaks
Wastewater Collection
Current LOS:
- No wastewater backups
- Percentage of sewers in Fair or better condition
or within service life is high (all assets above
95%)
- 76% of sanitary sewers inspected
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain condition of assets
- Increase percentage of sanitary sewers
inspected
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Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Stormwater Management
Current LOS:
- 57% of properties resilient to 100-year storm
- 73% of storm system resilient to 5-year storm
- Greater than 95% of storm sewers in Fair or
better condition
- Approx. 70% of storm culverts and SWMF in Fair
or better condition
- 36% of storm sewers inspected
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain condition of storm sewers and culverts
- Improve condition of SWMF
- Increase percentage of storm sewers inspected
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Current LOS:
- 15.6 square metres of parkland per person in the
City
- 30% urban forest canopy cover
- Greater than 85% of parks site and amenities
assets within service life
- Supporting facilities in Fair condition on average
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain urban forest canopy cover
- Maintain condition of parks site and amenities
assets
- Maintain supporting facilities in Good condition
on average
Recreation Facilities
Current LOS:
- 97 facility amenities/spaces provided to the
community
- Facilities in Good condition on average
- Greater than 75% of equipment within
service life
Proposed LOS:
- Increase facility amenities/spaces in alignment
with master plan
- Maintain facilities in Good condition on average
- Maintain equipment condition
Cultural Services
Current LOS:
- Facilities in Good condition on average
- Approx. 50% of cultural equipment within
service life
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain facilities in Good condition on average
- Increase condition of equipment
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Levels of Service | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Libraries
Current LOS:
- 0.57 square feet of library space per capita
- Libraries in Good condition on average
- Greater than 80% of library equipment and
collections within service life
Proposed LOS:
- Increase library space in alignment with master
plan
- Maintain libraries in Good condition on average
- Maintain/improve library equipment collections
condition
Protection Services
Current LOS:
- Fire stations in Good condition on average
- Greater than 90% of all fire fleet and equipment
within service life
- 100% of frontline fire fleet within service life
- 100% of PPE within service life
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain fire stations in Good condition on
average
- Maintain condition of fire fleet and equipment
- Maintain 100% frontline fire fleet and PPE within
service life
Administration Services
Current LOS:
- Office buildings in Good condition on average
- Greater than 70% of IT assets within service life
Proposed LOS:
- Maintain office buildings in Good condition on
average
- Increase the percentage of IT assets within
service life
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Chapter 4
Asset Management Strategies
Bayview Hill Park (under construction)
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
4.0
Asset Management Strategies
4.1
Employing Asset Lifecycle Strategies
The City's lifecycle strategies ensure assets are maintained and renewed at optimal
times to support reliable services while maximizing their value.
Every infrastructure asset evolves through a series of stages during its service life. This is
called the asset's lifecycle. Lifecycle strategies are the planned actions used to maintain
infrastructure to meet defined performance standards and support service delivery. Effective
lifecycle strategies use various treatment options, assess the cumulative costs and consider
potential risks to determine the most optimal cost-effective approach. For instance, an initial
up-front cost-saving on an asset acquisition may be rendered uneconomical if its increased
maintenance or shorter lifespan results in higher overall costs than a more durable
alternative. Similarly, persistently maintaining an aging asset with reduced reliability might
be cost-inefficient as opposed to replacing it. The typical stages of an asset lifecycle are
highlighted below.
The City's lifecycle strategies for its portfolio of assets describe the planned set of actions
that the City undertakes to manage its assets throughout their life. Once assets are
designed and constructed, they undergo a series of scheduled inspections, maintenance
actions and repair activities that the City undertakes on an ongoing basis to ensure
they perform reliably. The City also completes rehabilitations, reconstructions and/
or replacements when assets have reached the end of their life and/or are no longer
performing to an acceptable level. These represent the multifaceted collection of ongoing
studies and inspections (non-infrastructure solutions); proactive maintenance initiatives and
timely repairs (maintenance activities); eventual rehabilitations/replacement (renewals); and,
disposal activities illustrated in the figure above.
Figure 18: Typical Asset Lifecycle
Asset
Lifecycle
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Based on these strategies, lifecycle capital renewal models were developed and
incorporated into the City's EAM. These models generally reflect the currently practiced
lifecycle capital renewal activities by the City as well as recommended lifecycle capital
actions from technical condition assessments and those that should be undertaken as part
of best engineering principles and asset management practices. Utilizing these lifecycle
models, the EAM can forecast asset deterioration over time and plan for the requisite capital
treatment activities, timing and cost as well as the impacts on levels of service, risk, and
investment requirements.
The City's Lifecycle Strategies include the planned actions that the City proposes to
undertake to achieve its proposed levels of service and associated asset performance.
They allow the City to predict upcoming asset treatment activities and plan for the
forecasted investment requirements to achieve proposed levels of service. The City's
EAM incorporates logic associated with these lifecycle capital renewal strategies and
pairs it to the City's asset inventory data to forecast investment needs associated
with achieving the City's proposed levels of service to 2051. These capital lifecycle
forecasts are produced to understand the costs associated with the lifecycle activities
required to achieve proposed service levels, and to develop the associated financial
strategy required to achieve compliance with O. Reg. 588/17.
Further details on the general types of lifecycle strategies employed by the City are
highlighted below, while the Appendices describe the specific lifecycle strategies
for each grouping of assets. The City has included these strategies within this 2025
Asset Management Plan in order to achieve compliance with O. Reg. 588/17 reporting
requirements.
4.1.1
Non-Infrastructure Solutions
Non-infrastructure solutions encompass a wide range of actions that can improve asset
function, reduce costs and/or extend asset longevity. These can include studies, design
standards, by-laws, policies, procedures, process enhancements, public education, and/
or demand reduction programs such as water and energy conservation. For instance,
educating residents about water conservation and proper disposal practices can prolong
the life of the City's water and sanitary sewer systems. Other examples include the City
evaluating vendors based on criteria guided through the Procurement By-law to provide
the best value and ensuring that the assets acquired comply with its approved design and
construction standards.
4.1.2
Maintenance Activities
An essential asset management strategy is the regular inspection and proactive
maintenance of assets to sustain their function, pre-empt potential failures and defer more
costly downstream maintenance activities. In Richmond Hill, these actions encompass a
wide and varied range of activities across multiple assets such as street sweeping, winter
maintenance, catch basin cleaning, flushing of sewer and watermains, regular fleet and
equipment servicing, and parks maintenance among many others.
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
4.1.3
Rehabilitation Activities
As assets age and deteriorate over time, they reach the latter stages of their lifecycle where
a significant capital treatment may be required to renew them. Condition assessments
and studies play a crucial role in identifying these needs. In addition, the City's lifecycle
strategies and logic programmed into the EAM can model these behaviours, including
specific thresholds (i.e. triggers) for each asset which identifies when a capital intervention
may be required and the type and cost of that treatment. These capital interventions include
rehabilitation or replacement/reconstruction. Strategically rehabilitating infrastructure assets
can extend their lifespan and may prove more cost-effective than replacing assets that have
reached their end of life. Examples of rehabilitation activities include sewer relining and road
resurfacing programs. Once the asset receives one of these major capital treatments, the
asset's function and condition improves, after which it resumes its degradation.
4.1.4
Replacement Activities
At a certain point in an asset's lifecycle, replacement becomes the most appropriate capital
intervention, especially when continuous repairs or rehabilitations are no longer viable. For
instance, when a road's surface and base deteriorate and the underlying watermains and
sanitary sewers begin to fail, the City opts to replace the road, while bundling below-ground
asset replacements into one capital project to realize cost savings and minimize impacts
to residents. An asset might also be replaced if it no longer aligns with the City's service
standards, regulatory requirements and/or design and construction standards.
Figure 19: Asset Lifecycle Rehabilitations and Replacements
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
4.1.5
Disposal Activities
Most assets have some end-of-life disposal costs that can range from minimal to substantial.
For instance, disposal costs for Information Technology and fleet and equipment can
be minimal while disposal costs for Core infrastructure and facility assets can be more
substantial and include demolition and land restoration. It is imperative to include disposal
and decommissioning costs into the total lifecycle calculations and municipal asset
management protocols. A paramount consideration is minimizing financial, environmental,
and social implications during asset disposal.
4.1.6
Growth and Service Improvements
Growth and service improvements are the planned activities to extend services to new
areas, to upgrade existing services and/or to accommodate evolving demands including
from intensification. This can include activities such as the acquisition and construction of
new assets, or expanding the capacity of existing assets, e.g. upsizing water and sanitary
sewer linear pipes. Richmond Hill follows a comprehensive and collaborative approach for
servicing future growth expansions that utilizes a number of key guiding documents like
master plans and studies, servicing models, the Official Plan, and Development Charges
Background Study forecasts. The City's Environment Strategy is also a guiding document
that assists in improving services to meet environmental and climate change challenges.
These documents assess options and include recommendations for servicing the projected
growth. These recommendations are considered for approval through the City's Capital
Budget and Forecast.
Blackforest Drive
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
4.2
Utilizing a Risk-Based Prioritization Framework
The Corporate Asset Management Risk Framework supports the prioritization of
asset investment needs and capital projects to where they are needed the most while
considering available financial resources.
The Corporate Asset Management Risk Framework assesses and quantifies the potential
likelihood of asset failures and the consequence of failure to estimate the risk exposure of
the City's assets using a series of specific qualitative and quantitative metrics. The EAM
applies this framework to provide important information to assist with:
-
Guiding the prioritization of capital intervention investment decisions at the individual
asset level, within service areas, and across multiple service areas;
-
Objectively comparing multiple capital interventions;
-
Estimating the potential risks of delaying interventions on assets;
-
Identifying the best risk mitigation given funding constraints; and
-
Supporting aligning interventions across proximal assets (e.g. roads, watermains, and
sewers) to provide cost and implementation efficiencies.
The asset management risk framework is summarized as follows:
Failure Events and Likelihood of Failure (LOF)
There are two distinct failure events used in this framework to assess asset risk: condition-
based failure; and, capacity-based failure.
Condition-based failure represents the physical degradation of an asset over time to a
point where it could potentially fail or be inadequate to remain in service. The probability
of an asset failing from its condition-based failure event is understood through the asset's
current inspected condition and projected deterioration. In the absence of this inspected
condition data, the asset's age and estimated service life serve as a proxy for condition and
rate of deterioration. For instance, condition metrics such as watermain breaks can help to
understand the likelihood of condition-based failure of the assets. Failure would be defined
as a certain threshold of breaks, and a likelihood of failure could be measured depending on
current state of the asset's condition relative to that threshold.
Figure 20: Corporate Asset Management Risk Framework
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Capacity-based asset failure can be understood by evaluating the effect of increased
demand for usage due to growth against the ability of the asset to meet those demands. The
assessment of likelihood of failure for capacity is based on modelling results (e.g. Water,
Wastewater, and Stormwater Computer Models) and/or identification of when assets should
be expanded through master plans, studies, development charge forecasts and capital
budgets.
Consequence of Failure (COF)
An asset's consequence of failure estimates the potential adverse impacts that could be
experienced should that asset fail and no longer be in service. It provides an understanding
of asset criticality based on the repercussions that would be experienced should the asset
reach its condition or capacity-based failure. The City's risk management framework
assesses consequence of failure using a triple bottom line approach to evaluate the
following categories:
-
Financial: Direct capital and operating costs to the City in the event of failure;
-
Social: Direct and indirect impacts to the community, customer and the City; and
-
Environmental: Effects on the local ecosystem and the City's environmental
objectives.
Each of these categories is further subdivided into subcategories that represent the
various aspects of asset failure. Individual qualitative and quantitative metrics are used to
approximate the score for each of the specific subcategories below. For example, traffic
volumes (AADT counts) and road classification are used to understand the community
impact of an asset failing. Features such as land use are used to understand the types of
buildings or areas that an asset services - some more critical than others. A list of these
categories and subcategories is provided in Table 3 below.
Direct Financial
Social
Environmental
1. Capital Expenditure
(Replacement of assets)
2. Revenue loss due to
service closure or other
direct cost not related to
asset repair (Operating)
1. Health and Safety
2. Legal Liability
3. City Reputation
4. Service Disruption
5. Customer Impact
1. Environmental Objectives
and Compliance
2. Environmental Impact
Table 3: Consequence of Failure Framework Categories and Subcategories
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Using the evaluation developed by the City's Corporate Asset Management Risk
Framework, the EAM computes a total risk score for each asset based on both the likelihood
and consequence of an asset failing. Combinations of LOF and COF can be categorized as
either Very Low, Low, Medium, High or Very High potential risk. A letter grade is associated
with each of these five risk rating categories as summarized below. An overall average risk
grade was assigned to each of the City's 11 services as described in the Appendices to
better understand the risk profile and potential risk exposure.
Overall, the Corporate Asset Management risk profile for City-owned assets is on average
Very Low (Grade A), and is distributed as follows.
Figure 21: Corporate Asset Management Risk Map
Figure 22: Corporate Asset Management Risk Profile for the City's Assets
Risk Grade
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
A
B
C
D
F
$8,498 M
$3,364 M
$904 M
$3 M
$0 M
$0 M
$2,000 M
$4,000 M
$6,000 M
$8,000 M
$10,000 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The City's EAM used this Corporate Asset Management risk framework, tied to the lifecycle
strategies described in the previous section, to forecast projected prioritized lifecycle
investment needs under varying funding scenarios for each of the City's service areas.
These prioritized lifecycle investment forecasts are summarized in each of the Appendices
and in Chapter 5 of this 2025 Asset Management Plan. This framework is also used to assist
with the prioritization of capital projects as part of the City's annual Capital Budget and
Forecast process.
The Corporate Asset Management Risk Framework quantifies and standardizes
risk scores for all assets in the EAM. This allows for the consistent evaluation
and comparison of City assets to support the prioritization of forecasted lifecycle
investment requirements within constrained funding levels. It also helps guide asset
renewals to ensure that risks can be minimized under financial or other constraints.
The recommended lifecycle investment forecasts in this 2025 Asset Management Plan
achieve compliance with O. Reg. 588/17. This framework will also be used to assist
with the prioritization of the 2026 Capital Budget and Forecast.
Harding Park
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Roadway System
Very Low
$568 M
Low
$1,244 M
Medium
$176 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$1,989 M
Risk Distribution
29%
62%
9%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
Stormwater Management
Very Low
$2,374 M
Low
$655 M
Medium
$241 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$3,270 M
Risk Distribution
73%
20% 7%
Average Risk
Grade
A
(Very Low)
Active Transportation
Very Low
$191 M
Low
$292 M
Medium
$17 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$500 M
Risk Distribution
38%
59%
3%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
4.3
Risk Summary
Water Distribution
Very Low
$2,706 M
Low
$85 M
Medium
$30 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$2,821 M
Risk Distribution
96%
3%1%
Average Risk
Grade
A
(Very Low)
Wastewater Collection
Very Low
$2,364 M
Low
$386 M
Medium
$256 M
High
$3 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$3,009 M
Risk Distribution
79%
13%
8%
Average Risk
Grade
A
(Very Low)
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Very Low
$147 M
Low
$263 M
Medium
$56 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$465 M
Risk Distribution
32%
56%
12%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
Very Low (Grade A)
Low (Grade B)
Medium (Grade C)
High (Grade D)
Very High (Grade F)
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Very Low (Grade A)
Low (Grade B)
Medium (Grade C)
High (Grade D)
Very High (Grade F)
Recreation Facilities
Very Low
$76 M
Low
$223 M
Medium
$59 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$359 M
Risk Distribution
21%
62%
17%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
Libraries
Very Low
$20 M
Low
$61 M
Medium
$20 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$101 M
Risk Distribution
20%
60%
20%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
Protection Services
Very Low
$12 M
Low
$31 M
Medium
$14 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$57 M
Risk Distribution
21%
54%
25%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
Cultural Services
Very Low
$24 M
Low
$25 M
Medium
$3 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$51 M
Risk Distribution
46%
48%
6%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
Administration Services
Very Low
$15 M
Low
$100 M
Medium
$31 M
High
$0 M
Very High
$0 M
Total
$146 M
Risk Distribution
10%
69%
21%
Average Risk
Grade
B
(Low)
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
4.4
Consideration of Climate Change
The incorporation of climate change considerations into the City's asset
management strategies allows for their effects on infrastructure to be identified and
planned for to improve their resiliency to support City services.
Climate change is expected to continue to impact the condition of City assets, their
deterioration and lifecycle needs. Addressing the impacts of climate change especially at the
municipal asset management level is an important consideration since the effects on local
infrastructure can negatively influence the delivery of community services they support.
In 2018, the City conducted a Corporate Climate Change Risk Scan which identified the
climate conditions that had the potential for the greatest frequency and severity on municipal
operations. These included occurrences of intense rainfall, heatwaves, ice storms, freeze-
thaw cycles and high wind speeds. These extreme weather events can expedite the wear
and tear of certain assets, as well as potentially cause premature failure, which could
accelerate the need for more frequent and ongoing maintenance, repair, and replacement
efforts. Such climatic influences can also decrease certain assets' capacity to deliver
services at the desired level as well as increase the risk of asset failure. Given these
implications, strengthening the City's asset management planning approaches to consider
the effects of climate change is crucial to maintaining community infrastructure.
Figure 23: The City's 2020 Climate Change Framework - Climate Trends and Consequences
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
In an effort to take a proactive response on climate change and plan for its impacts, the City
developed a series of actions and goals in climate-related plans, strategies, policies and
frameworks. One of those key actions was to apply a climate change lens to the City's asset
management planning processes, which were entrenched in:
-
The City's Climate Change Framework (2020);
-
The City's Strategic Asset Management Policy (2024 update);
-
The City's Environment Strategy Update (2022); and
-
The Corporate Asset Management Climate Change Risk Management Strategy for
the EAM and Asset Management (2022).
4.4.1
The City's Climate Change Framework (2020)
In 2020, the City developed its Climate Change Framework
to provide a coordinated approach to taking climate action. It
utilized the climate events, impacts and consequences from
the 2018 Climate Change Risk Scan to delineate six specific
goals. Being cognizant of the significant effects climate can
have on the City's infrastructure assets, one of those goals in
this framework was to apply a climate change lens to asset
management to increase asset resiliency (i.e. adaptation)
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. mitigation) while
maintaining financial sustainability. Under this goal, there
were a number of recommended short, medium and long-
term actions identified.
Since 2020, some of these recommended actions to enhance infrastructure to accommodate
climate change resiliency and mitigation have been completed, while others are in progress.
A summary of these specific activities associated with each of the 11 services the City
provides are included in the Appendices. The alignment of the key goals in this framework
that are linked to each of the specific 11 services are also outlined in the Appendices.
4.4.2
The City's Strategic Asset Management Policy
The 2024 update to the City's Strategic Asset Management Policy enhances the
consideration of climate change as part of asset management planning. It enshrines the
City's commitment to factor in climate change implications at each stage of an asset's
lifecycle. It also reaffirms that climate change is part of the City's Corporate Asset
Management Risk Framework and highlights that infrastructure should be designed to be
resilient to climate events and consequences through:
-
Identifying potential vulnerabilities of the City's assets from climate change;
-
Considering the costs to address those vulnerabilities;
-
Considering adaptation opportunities that may be undertaken to manage the
vulnerabilities; and,
-
Incorporating these into the City's asset management strategies (lifecycle and risk)
and annual capital budgeting and forecasting process to seek funding as required.
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
4.4.3
The City's Environment Strategy Update (2022)
The Council-approved 2022 update to the
Environment Strategy included a number of actions
focused around ten themes to further improve the
City's environmental performance. Many of the
recommended actions are related to infrastructure
and as such, continue to be integrated with the
City's asset management objectives, practices and
procedures. While some of the actions identified in
this plan have been completed, there are others that
are in progress.
A sample of the recently completed and ongoing actions from this Strategy related to each of
the 11 services the City provides are summarized in the Appendices under Climate Change
Considerations.
4.4.4
The Corporate Asset Management Climate Change Risk Management Strategy for the EAM
and Asset Management (2022)
In 2022, the City completed a study entitled
"Considerations for a Broader Risk Management Strategy
for Decision Support: Climate Change Risk Framework."
This comprehensive study recommended an approach
for assessing the vulnerabilities of the City's assets to the
effects of climate change and determining their criticality
within the existing Corporate Asset Management Risk
Framework in the EAM. By implementing this innovative
enhancement, the EAM will be able to generate more
dynamic risk prioritization rankings that also consider
climate change. This initiative represents a significant
step forward in further understanding and integrating the
effects of climate change on the City's infrastructure to
develop mitigation-based asset management strategies.
The consideration of climate change into the City's asset management strategies
ensures that its effects on infrastructure can be identified and proactively planned for
to maintain the well-being of community infrastructure. This is exemplified through
everyday asset management practices and procedures as well as through various
plans, policies, and frameworks. This is not only a best business practice to sustain
community services, but also complies with O. Reg. 588/17 requirements to consider
climate change as part of asset management.
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Asset Management Strategies | 2025 Asset Management Plan
4.5
Alignment with the City's Affordable Housing Strategy
In June 2024, Richmond Hill Council approved the City's updated Asset Management Policy,
which outlines the City's goals and commitments to corporate asset management planning
through defined principles and processes to ensure the alignment and integration of asset
management into strategic planning processes. Included in this policy is the identification of
principles that enable the consideration of affordable housing on City-owned lands, through
integration of asset management planning into Richmond Hill's guiding documents, including
the Affordable Housing Strategy.
The City's Affordable Housing Strategy sets out various actions the City will undertake
to deliver on the City's affordable housing priorities. Included in the suite of actions is to
"identify surplus or underutilized City-owned land or buildings for the purpose of developing
affordable housing" and "consider options to re-develop/use City land to include affordable
housing on these sites where appropriate."
As the City's Asset Management planning capability evolves, the opportunity to locate
affordable housing on properties with existing City-owned facilities and infrastructure shall
be further explored. The 2025 Asset Management Plan update acknowledges the future
opportunity for Richmond Hill to consider options for the location or co-location of affordable
housing on City-owned sites, resulting from a review of overall City-owned facility service
level needs in consideration of facility investment needs.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Chapter 5
Asset Investment and
Financial Strategy
Old Langstaff Bridge (under construction)
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.0
Asset Investment and Financial Strategy
5.1
Financing Service Delivery
This 2025 Asset Management Plan completes an evaluation of the financial needs
associated with achieving the City's proposed levels of service. It also completes
a forecast of available revenues in order to identify if an infrastructure shortfall
exists. For areas with an infrastructure shortfall, this AM Plan proposes strategies to
mitigate the shortfall and manage any risks.
Understanding the relationships between asset lifecycles, service levels, risks and required
funding are imperative to developing an Asset Management Plan and financial strategy that
provides a proactive approach to ensure that services are provided to the community in the
most efficient and effective way possible.
To finance service delivery and the management of its assets, the City collects revenue
from various sources, which it uses to fund the required activities that form part of service
delivery. Those activities are generally separated into two budgets: the Operating Budget
and the Capital Budget.
The Operating Budget consists of expenses that cover the day-to-day activities or
operations to provide services, including items such as staffing, utilities, materials, program
supplies, and contract costs. The rate supported operating budget allocations cover costs
for the operations and maintenance of water, wastewater and stormwater assets. The non-
rate supported operating budget allocations primarily fund the operations and maintenance
requirements for all other infrastructure assets such as roads, parks, buildings, fleet, and
information technology.
The City's Capital Budget and Forecast is a comprehensive financial plan that identifies
the infrastructure investment needs and the required funding for the state of good repair of
existing infrastructure as well as for new or expansion growth assets. Due to the long-term
nature of capital projects, the City's capital planning horizon covers a ten-year period, which
includes an annual Capital Budget and a nine-year Forecast that is reviewed annually to
re-assess the timing, scope, and estimated costs. The annual Capital Budget approves
funds for the capital projects in the current year while the nine-year Capital Forecast is a
long-term plan identifying priority projects so these pressures can be proactively planned
and addressed in a financially sustainable manner. These capital investments are essential
to ensure the effective delivery of services that is envisioned for Richmond Hill now and
into the future. The Capital Budget and Forecast is one of the mechanisms to secure
investments and funding to achieve the City's commitment to providing exceptional public
service to the community.
The City of Richmond Hill follows a rigorous and iterative year-round annual budgeting
process that involves the development and approval of the Operating Budget and the
Capital Budget. The analysis supported by the EAM, which informs the Capital Budget and
Forecast is also used to inform this AM Plan and financial strategy.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The financial strategy presented herein was developed through the following steps:
-
The City completed detailed asset management analyses and forecasting through
its EAM system to establish the needs (i.e. costs) required to achieve proposed LOS
targets to 2051. Needs were identified by service area (refer to the Appendices for
details regarding each service area).
-
The first 10 years of needs from the EAM forecast were utilized for the financial
strategy. Utilizing a 10-year horizon for this financial strategy aligns with timelines
the City uses to forecast revenue, and also aligns with the requirements of O. Reg.
588/17.
-
The identified needs were categorized into three groups: State of Good Repair
(capital); Growth (capital); and, Operating Expenditures (operating), which aligns
with the reporting requirements of O. Reg. 588/17. The SOGR needs from the EAM
analysis were further supplemented with additional non-renewal needs obtained from
the Capital Budget and Forecast (e.g. studies, service improvements, etc.)
-
Needs were aggregated into three higher-level portfolios for the purposes of this
financial strategy. These portfolios were developed to align with major funding
sources, and include:
1. Rate Supported (Water/Wastewater): This portfolio includes all Water
Distribution and Wastewater Collection assets, which are funded primarily
based on water user rates charged to users of these services.
2. Rate Supported (Stormwater): This portfolio includes all Stormwater
Management assets, which will gain additional funding from the City's newly
updated stormwater management user rate in addition to other sources.
3. Non-Rate Supported: This portfolio includes all remaining assets (e.g. roads,
facilities, equipment), which are primarily funded by property tax revenues in
addition to other sources.
-
An analysis of various funding sources available to the City, as well as the funding
projected to be available was completed over the 10-year horizon of the financial
strategy.
-
Funding available for SOGR needs was separated from the total available funding
pool. The financial strategy assumes that operating forecasts as well as growth
forecasts are funded over the 10-year horizon and focuses on SOGR needs and
funding.
-
The first 10 years of SOGR needs to achieve proposed levels of service were
compared to available SOGR funding to identify funding shortfalls in each portfolio (if
any).
-
An analysis of potential lifecycle activities and risks was completed for portfolios
where shortfalls were identified. Strategies for adjusting lifecycle activities and
mitigating risks were evaluated.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
-
An assessment on implementing this financial strategy was completed, which includes
the actions the City will undertake to monitor asset needs and service levels annually,
as well as its reporting and updating on progress of this AM Plan. This assessment
will also provide an overview of additional risks and mitigations associated with the
implementation of the AM Plan and financial strategy.
5.2
Identifying and Forecasting Asset Needs
This 2025 Asset Management Plan aligns with the analysis method completed by
the City in the preceding 2024 Asset Management Plan by completing an analysis of
needs based on a phased-in annual increase of state of good repair investments until
2051. This phased-in approach was selected to gradually address the infrastructure
backlog and meet proposed condition-based Levels of Service over time.
5.2.1
State of Good Repair (Capital)
In order to forecast state of good repair needs, the City's EAM uses asset inventory data,
the existing state of the City's infrastructure (e.g. condition), lifecycle strategies (e.g. capital
interventions and degradation), levels of service (e.g. performance metrics) and the risk
framework (e.g. prioritization) to analyze and forecast future prioritized capital investment
needs under varying scenarios.
The objective of the analysis was to identify a suggested state of good repair infrastructure
investment plan that could be phased in annually that would meet the City's proposed
service levels while gradually addressing the infrastructure backlog over time.
The scope and parameters of the scenario analysis were as follows:
-
The analysis was completed to 2051 (i.e. over a 27-year time horizon). This was
done to align with the same planning forecast as the City's various master plans and
studies including the 2024 AM Plan, Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Urban
Master Environmental Servicing Plan, etc.;
-
The analysis identified the infrastructure backlog of asset needs, which represents the
past overdue and current year (2025) renewal needs (i.e. major rehabilitations and
replacements);
-
The analysis was completed to achieve levels of service targets using an approach
that phases in annual asset investments to 2051. This was selected to emulate a
plausible approach that the City could employ to increase spending gradually over
time to eliminate the backlog and meet needs;
-
The needs analysis also completed a review of projected spending trends, based on
the City's last three (3) years of approved Capital Budgets, including approved capital
projects. This provided historical context that was used to anticipate spending trends
and support the baseline (historical spending) analysis; and,
-
The analysis incorporated the City's recently approved 2025 Capital Budget and
Forecast, including the state of good repair approved capital projects. This was used
to illustrate the starting level (i.e. 2025) of asset investments, to ensure that the AM
Plan aligns with the current approved budget.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The EAM can analyze the effects of various scenarios given certain funding or performance
constraints. The two scenarios analyzed through the EAM using these parameters are as
follows.
Scenario
Description
Scenario 1:
Historical
Spending
Analysis
The first scenario projects forward historical spending trends to understand
their effects on asset performance. This scenario leverages the EAM's
capabilities to apply funding constraints and show the impacts on assets. It
prioritizes the asset investment needs with the highest risk to better emulate
real-world decisions related to spending. To complete this analysis, the EAM
utilizes the average of the past three years of budget spending (2023 to 2025)
as an input and applies a 2% annual increase to reflect estimated growth
in spending that may be anticipated. For certain services, anomalies were
removed from the trend analysis. The starting year (i.e. 2025) illustrates the
current 2025 budget.
This analysis was completed to provide a baseline of spending in order to
understand the changes in asset performance levels of service over time
should current spending trends continue. It was also completed to show
consistency with the City's 2024 Asset Management Plan. This Historical
Spending Analysis scenario is closely aligned with the analysis completed in
the 2024 AM Plan, which projected forward 2024's initial SOGR expenditure.
Rather than projecting from a single year, this AM Plan utilizes the past three-
years' average of spending to establish a trend for projections.
Scenario 2:
Achieve
Proposed Level
of Service
This scenario first calculates the total asset need over the 27-year forecast
period to identify the funding required to achieve all proposed levels of service
and eliminate backlog over the forecast period. Then, using this total financial
need, the EAM applied a gradual, phased-in annual increase in spending to
achieve the City's proposed levels of service by the end of the forecast period.
The decision was made to complete this analysis with phased-in investments
to more closely emulate a plausible scenario whereby the City could increase
spending to achieve proposed levels of service, in an attempt to model a
realistic outcome that maximizes the potential for affordability.
This scenario most closely emulates the "Maintain Level of Service" scenario
that was completed for the City's 2024 AM Plan. Note that the City has
elected to maintain or improve the majority of its service levels into the future,
therefore the analysis completed in 2024 to maintain levels of service is closely
aligned with this 2025 analysis to achieve proposed levels of service.
Table 4: SOGR Asset Investment Strategy Scenarios
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The scenario analysis and identification of spending requirements to achieve proposed
levels of service were developed under the following assumptions:
-
The condition-based forecasted renewal needs were primarily based on the
consideration of a "like-for-like" replacement/rehabilitation of existing assets using
current costs to replace a similar asset. Where information was available, additional
funding was included in the forecasted needs to represent anticipated enhancements
or other service improvements to assets. This additional need is detailed on the
forecast figures where applicable.
-
The EAM forecasted asset needs do not consider the bundling of assets where
applicable. When the City plans capital projects, it often bundles assets in similar
geographical locations (such as sewers, watermains and roads in the same street) to
take advantage of efficiencies and minimize impacts to the communities. The City's
EAM does not yet include the full capability to forecast bundled assets, therefore
assets were analyzed in isolation.
The outcomes from the EAM scenario analysis are presented in Table 5 and Figure 24.
Further details on the results of the analysis for each of the City's services are described in
the Appendices. The key highlights from the EAM's analysis are as follows:
-
There is currently an estimated infrastructure backlog of $327 million of immediate
renewal needs for the City's existing assets;
-
To gradually address this estimated infrastructure backlog and the ongoing annual
asset renewals concurrently moving forward, the state of good repair asset
investment expenditure levels should increase from $53 million in 2025 by an
estimated increasing annual average of approximately $5.6 to $7.0 million, in current
dollars. Of this, it is estimated that $0.5 to $0.7 million would be rate supported for
water and wastewater; $0.7 to $1.0 million would be rate supported for stormwater
management, and $4.4 to $5.3 million would be for non-rate supported services.
-
Note that there is an additional provision of $3.0 million for stormwater pond
rehabilitations, $0.3 million for street and park tree replacements due to storms and
invasive species, and $2.0 million for protection services to align with the historical
average spending for this service area;
-
The City also estimates an additional $2.5 to $3.0 million annually to address non-
renewal SOGR needs, based on the last approved capital budget. These needs
include items such as non-infrastructure activities (i.e. studies and plans) and repairs
to some assets; and,
-
This suggested annual increase of state of good repair investment levels are
established to achieve proposed levels of service to 2051. This is described further in
Section 5.3.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 24: Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - All Services ($ millions)
Table 5: Summary of the Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy by Service ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$50 M
$100 M
$150 M
$200 M
$250 M
$300 M
$350 M
$400 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$5.6 to $7.0 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
$3.0 M for stormwater management pond rehabilitations
$0.3 M for street and park tree replacements
$2.0 M for fire services
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Roadway
84.2
14.7
+2.8 to 3.3
284.6
28.5
1,468.5
54.4
Active
Transportation
14.2
0.1
+0.5 to 0.7
27.9
2.8
213.0
7.9
Water
88.2
13.3
+0.5 to 0.7
159.6
16.0
568.7
21.1
Wastewater
Stormwater1
72.7
5.4
+0.7 to 1.0
118.8
11.9
520.8
19.3
Parks2
27.1
3.1
+0.25 to 0.30
45.6
4.6
186.8
6.9
Recreation
15.4
7.9
+0.30 to 0.35
93.8
9.4
327.7
12.1
Culture
1.0
0.1
+0.20 to 0.25
10.9
1.1
81.2
3.0
Libraries
10.2
2.5
+0.13 to 0.15
31.2
3.1
116.4
4.3
Protection3
4.2
0.4
+0.05 to 0.07
24.8
2.5
84.2
3.1
Administration
9.8
5.5
+0.15 to 0.16
62.4
6.2
204.0
7.6
Total
$326.9
$52.9
+$5.6 to $7.0
$859.6
$86.0
$3,771.3
$139.7
1. $3.0 M for stormwater management pond rehabilitations would be required annually.
2. $0.3 M for street and park tree replacements due to storm events and invasive species would be required annually.
3. $2.0 M for Protection Services to align with historical average spending for this service area would be required annually.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 25: Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Non-Rate Supported Services
Figure 26: Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Water and Wastewater Rate Supported Services
Figure 27: Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Stormwater Management Rate Supported Services
Backlog
$0 M
$50 M
$100 M
$150 M
$200 M
$250 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$4.4 to $5.3 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
$0.3 M for street and park tree replacements
$2.0 M for fire services
Backlog
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
Backlog
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.7 to $1.0 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
$3.0 M for stormwater management pond rehabilitations
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.2.2
Identifying Additional State of Good Repair Needs (Capital) for Water Distribution, Wastewater
Collection and Stormwater Management Services
The forecasted SOGR needs presented in this AM Plan represent the needs associated
with achieving the proposed condition-based levels of service for the City's assets. The
analysis completed to forecast these needs was completed by the City's EAM system and
the outputs from this analysis are provided to the City's subject matter experts to assist them
in developing the Capital Plan and Forecast each year.
In 2024, the City completed financial plans for its Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection
and Stormwater Management services. The City's past capital forecasts for these service
areas were utilized to understand asset needs to support their respective financial plans.
The financial strategy in this 2025 AM Plan has supplemented the needs identified by the
City's EAM with additional needs identified in the 2024 financial studies for these three
service areas.
Appendix C, Appendix D, and Appendix E provide additional commentary for the Water
Distribution, Wastewater Collection and Stormwater Management service areas related
to the needs identified as part of their respective financial plans. Furthermore, these
Appendices also provide a comparison of the EAM-forecasted and financial plan needs for
each of these service areas.
5.2.3
Total Forecasted State of Good Repair Needs (Capital)
Figure 28 below provides a summary of all forecasted SOGR needs used for this 2025 AM
Plan's financial strategy. These needs incorporate the additional needs identified from the
Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection and Stormwater Management financial plans.
Figure 28: Total State of Good Repair Needs (2025-2034) - All Services
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
$140 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Non-Rate Supported
Water and Wastewater Rate Supported
Stormwater Management Rate Supported
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.2.4
Growth (Capital)
Growth needs projections are developed by the City's long-term master plans (e.g.
Transportation Master Plan, Parks Plan, Fire Master Plan, Recreation and Culture Plan,
Development Charges Background Study). These plans study changing growth needs,
emerging priorities and external circumstances. The master planning process enables the
City to prioritize growth-related capital projects, allocate resources efficiently, and make
informed decisions that support a growing, evolving and developing community.
Projected growth needs from master plans are integrated into the City's 10-Year Capital
Budget and Forecast. The data from that forecast is provided below. Growth projections by
service are also provided in the Appendices.
Figure 29: Growth-Related Capital Budget and Forecast Expenditures (2025-2034) - All Services
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
$140 M
$160 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Non-Rate Supported
Water and Wastewater Rate Supported
Stormwater Management Rate Supported
Trans Richmond Trail
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 30: Growth-Related Capital Budget and Forecast Expenditures (2025-2034) - Non-Rate Supported Services
Figure 31: Growth-Related Capital Budget and Forecast Expenditures (2025-2034) - Water and Wastewater
Figure 32: Growth-Related Capital Budget and Forecast Expenditures (2025-2034) - Stormwater Management
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
$140 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
$30 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
$0 M
$4 M
$8 M
$12 M
$16 M
$20 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.2.5
Operating Expenditures
The City's operating budget needs were forecasted over a 10-year time horizon for this 2025
AM Plan. The City currently enacts a process whereby it sets its operating budgets annually,
and produces a 3-year forecast in the operating budget. The forecasts were extended to 10
years for this AM Plan to meet the requirements of O. Reg. 588/17.
The operating budget forecast was completed by trending forward the City's current
operating budget. Furthermore, proportional increases were applied, corresponding to the
increase in capital needs projected by the City's 10-year growth forecasts. This represents
estimated increases in the operating budget associated with population and employment
growth as well as the resulting increase in capital growth-related needs.
In the cases of certain service areas, preliminary opinions by subject matter experts have
shed light on pressures to the operating budget that may be experienced by these services.
For example, an increase in intensification to some residential areas may result in more
traffic on local roads, and a need for additional road maintenance. While these factors are
understood by the City's subject matter experts, additional analysis may be required before
they can be quantified and built into forecasts. The Appendices to this AM Plan provide
detail on some expected operating budget pressures in the narrative associated with
operating budget forecasts.
Figure 33: Operating Expenditures Forecast (2025-2034) - All Services
$0 M
$50 M
$100 M
$150 M
$200 M
$250 M
$300 M
$350 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Non-Rate Supported
Water and Wastewater Rate Supported
Stormwater Management Rate Supported
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 34: Operating Expenditures Forecast (2025-2034) - Non-Rate Supported Services
Figure 35: Operating Expenditures Forecast (2025-2034) - Water and Wastewater Rate Supported Services
Figure 36: Operating Expenditures Forecast (2025-2034) - Stormwater Management Rate Supported Services
$0 M
$50 M
$100 M
$150 M
$200 M
$250 M
$300 M
$350 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
$0 M
$4 M
$8 M
$12 M
$16 M
$20 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
$14 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.2.6
Total Projected Asset Needs
The City's total projected asset needs over 10 years is illustrated in the following figures.
$0 M
$100 M
$200 M
$300 M
$400 M
$500 M
$600 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
State of Good Repair (Capital)
Growth (Capital)
Operating Expenditures (Operating)
Figure 37: Total Projected Asset Needs (2025-2034)
Bethesda Side Road
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 38: Total Projected Asset Needs (2025-2034) - Non-Rate Supported Services
Figure 39: Total Projected Asset Needs (2025-2034) - Water and Wastewater Rate Supported Services
Figure 40: Total Projected Asset Needs (2025-2034) - Stormwater Management Rate Supported Services
$0 M
$100 M
$200 M
$300 M
$400 M
$500 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
State of Good Repair (Capital)
Growth (Capital)
Operating Expenditures (Operating)
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
State of Good Repair (Capital)
Growth (Capital)
Operating Expenditures (Operating)
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
State of Good Repair (Capital)
Growth (Capital)
Operating Expenditures (Operating)
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.3
Forecasting Available Funding
Projections of funding available to the City assist in identifying an infrastructure
shortfall to meet the needs identified to achieve its proposed levels of service.
A key consideration of this financial strategy, and a new element in this 2025 Asset
Management Plan, is an analysis and forecast of the funding that the City projects to be
available to address the needs associated with achieving proposed levels of service.
The City receives funding from a variety of revenue sources. This revenue is collected to
fund the various operations and other activities that the City enacts to deliver services to the
community. The following funding sources are available to the City.
Taxes: Funds received from taxes are used for rehabilitation of the City's existing
infrastructure to maintain them in a state of good repair, fund infrastructure renewal projects
and various strategic priorities. It is also used to fund the City's share of growth projects for
any benefit to existing development.
Water and Wastewater Rates: Water and Wastewater services rely on user rates and fees
to cover service costs. The Water and Wastewater Budget reflects the costs and revenues
associated with the maintenance of the Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection
systems and is mainly funded through water and wastewater consumption rates.
Stormwater Management Rate: Stormwater Management in Richmond Hill is a City-wide
service to protect the environment, water quality and community. Stormwater is comprised of
rain or melting snow that flows into the storm sewers or stormwater management ponds in
all areas of the City. The Stormwater Management Rate funds the ongoing maintenance and
rehabilitation of Richmond Hill's stormwater facilities.
Development Charges (DCs): Development charges are fees collected by the City for
new development and redevelopment of land. Collecting development charges is the City's
primary revenue tool for funding growth-related capital costs. This reduces the overall
burden on the taxpayer.
Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF): Introduced in 2005, the Canada Community
Building Fund (formerly known as Federal Gas Tax) provides Ontario municipalities with a
source of stable, predictable, and long-term funding towards environmentally sustainable
municipal infrastructure. Recent changes to the Canada Community Building Fund
expanded the list of eligible capital uses that allow for greater funding towards the City's
strategic priorities.
Other Sources: The City has other reserves and reserve funds which are used to fund
capital projects. This would include Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland (which is used to fund the
purchase and development of new parkland) as well as a collection of various internal
sources that are used to fund specific assets (e.g. Theatre Repair and Replacement,
Terrestrial Natural Area Restoration, Non-Growth).
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Other funding sources that are potentially available to the City but are not necessarily
included within this analysis include the following.
Grant Funding: Funding may be provided by other levels of government in the form of
grants. This funding source was not considered in the City's analysis except in certain
instances where it has already been secured by the City.
Debt Financing: a loan that is issued to the City, which must be repaid with interest. The
City does not typically elect to use debt financing and only relies on it when absolutely
necessary, and therefore, it is not considered in this analysis except in certain instances
when it has already been approved by the City.
These various funding sources are used to finance the City's operating and capital budgets.
The City's operating budget must be fully funded each year. As a result, funding allocated
towards operating expenditures has not been considered in this funding forecast and only
funding related to capital expenditures has been considered. The following figure provides a
breakdown of the City's capital funding for its 2025 budget, by source. The figure illustrates
the division of each funding source between growth and SOGR.
Figure 41: 2025 Capital Budget Funding Breakdown
Development Charges -
Growth, $19.8 M
Water and Wastewater
Rate - SOGR, $14.1 M
Canada Community Building
Fund - Growth, $1.0 M
Canada Community Building
Fund - SOGR, $8.1 M
Other Sources -
Growth, $5.5 M
Other Sources - SOGR,
$3.5 M
Stormwater
Management Rate -
SOGR, $4.2 M
Tax Supported -
Growth, $2.1 M
Tax Supported -
SOGR, $31.2 M
2025 Approved
Capital Budget
$89.5 M
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Funding that is allocated towards growth needs, such as development charges, cannot be
used to fund state of good repair needs. This funding is based on the City's capital growth
forecasts. As a result, this AM Plan utilizes the assumption that "growth pays for growth",
and therefore growth projections are fully funded. Therefore, this financial strategy analyzes
infrastructure shortfalls for state of good repair needs only. The following figures illustrate the
City's revenue forecasts for state of good repair needs, by source. Note that it includes debt
in some years, which has been approved to assist in funding state of good repair needs for
stormwater assets.
Figure 42: State of Good Repair Revenue Forecast (2025-2034) - All Services
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Tax Supported
Water and Wastewater Rate
Stormwater Management Rate
Canada Community Building Fund
Other Sources
Debt
Palmer Park
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 43: State of Good Repair Revenue Forecast (2025-2034) - Non-Rate Supported Services
Figure 44: State of Good Repair Revenue Forecast (2025-2034) - Water and Wastewater Rate Supported Services
Figure 45: State of Good Repair Revenue Forecast (2025-2034) - Stormwater Management Rate Supported Services
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
$60 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Tax Supported
Canada Community Building Fund
Other Sources
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
$60 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Water and Wastewater Rate
Other Sources
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Stormwater Management Rate
Debt
Canada Community Building Fund
Other Sources
*Based on the approved Stormwater Management Financial Plan, $3 M in Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF) funding will be
used annually for the first five years, and $22 M of debt will be issued to smooth stormwater management rate increases.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The City's revenue forecasts will be compared to the state of good repair asset needs to
identify funding shortfalls. The revenue forecasts presented herein were developed under
the following assumptions:
-
Revenue forecasts are based on an assumption that population growth is aligned with
the City's Official Plan.
-
The tax revenue forecasts include an implemented Capital Asset Sustainability (CAS)
levy of 1.5%. It was assumed that this levy will remain constant over the 10-year
forecast period.
-
Revenue from reserve fund balances have generally not been included in these
forecasts. Reserve allocations are determined annually as part of the City's Capital
Budget and Forecast process. The City strives to maintain a healthy balance of
reserve funds, to ensure that they are available to address needs when required.
-
This strategy was developed under the assumption that growth needs and operating
expenditures will be funded in full moving forward. The funding shortfall analysis is
therefore focused on state of good repair projections.
5.4
Identifying and Managing Funding Shortfalls
5.4.1
Identifying Funding Shortfalls for State of Good Repair
The City has identified a funding shortfall for non-rate supported assets. This
financial plan discusses strategies to address this shortfall, as well as to manage the
risks associated with the shortfall.
The City's state of good repair needs were compared to projected revenue for the three
major groupings in this financial strategy: non-rate supported services, water/wastewater
rate supported services, and stormwater management rate supported services. The
forecasts were aggregated into these categories to represent the funding envelopes that are
tied to specific assets (i.e. water/wastewater and stormwater) and cannot be utilized across
other asset portfolios. The following figures illustrate the comparison of state of good repair
needs to projected revenue.
Figure 46: Funding Shortfall (2025-2034) - All Services
$36 M
$29 M
$13 M
$24 M
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
Non-Rate Supported
Water and Wastewater Rate Supported
Stormwater Management Rate Supported
Projected Available Average Annual Funding
Average Annual Funding Shortfall
Average Annual
Funding Need
$60 M
Average Annual
Funding Need
$28 M
Average Annual
Funding Need
$13 M
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Figure 47: Comparison of Needs and Funding (2025-2034) - Non-Rate Supported Services
Figure 48: Comparison of Needs and Funding (2025-2034) - Water and Wastewater Rate Supported Services
Figure 49: Comparison of Needs and Funding (2025-2034) - Stormwater Management Rate Supported Services
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Projected Available Annual Funding
Total SOGR Needs
10-Yr Average Funding
10-Yr Average SOGR Needs
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Projected Available Annual Funding
Water and Wastewater Financial Plan Needs
10-Yr Average Funding
10-Yr Average SOGR Needs
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Projected Available Annual Funding
Stormwater Management Financial Plan Needs
10-Yr Average Funding
10-Yr Average SOGR Needs
Total Shortfall (2025-34)
$240 M
Avg. Annual Shortfall
$24 M/yr
No Shortfall Identified
(2025-34)
No Shortfall Identified
(2025-34)
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.4.2
Managing the Shortfall
Non-rate supported services have identified a shortfall of approximately $240 M over 2025-
2034, or an average of approximately $24 M/yr. The needs for non-rate supported services
are projected to increase steadily over the next 10 years, which is a function of the phased-
in approach to achieving proposed service levels that the City has used to identify needs.
Revenues are also projected to steadily increase over the next 10 years, however, the rate
of increase of needs is larger, resulting in a shortfall of approximately $240 M total from
2025 to 2034. Note that this shortfall is identified for the City's portfolio of non-rate supported
services as a whole. The City can allocate funding towards the various assets within this
group as needed to fund projects depending on need and risk.
Water/wastewater and stormwater management rate funded services have not identified a
shortfall. Excesses in revenue should be contributed to reserves for this asset group, which
will assist the City in managing longer-term pressures beyond the 10-year time horizon of
this financial strategy.
This financial strategy explores two facets related to the identification of a shortfall in
non-rate supported assets. First, it explores several options for mitigating the shortfall,
which are organized under three headings: adjusting lifecycle strategies, adjusting asset
performance expectations, and increasing funding. Second, it explores the City's approach
to managing risks while operating under a shortfall or enacting these strategies. The
following subsections provide this commentary for the City as a whole. In addition to this, in
each of the Appendices, a section entitled "Future Outlook - Managing Lifecycle Needs and
Mitigating Risks" provides additional commentary specific to each service area.
5.4.2.1 Options for Managing the Shortfall
This Asset Management Plan presents the following strategies for managing the shortfall
identified for the asset groups noted above. Each of these strategies should be carefully
considered to ensure that the City is supporting its data-driven decisions that balance the
financial needs, service level priorities and risks to the community. The following discusses
these strategies in more detail.
Adjusting Lifecycle Strategies
Within this AM Plan, the City has identified the lifecycle strategies and projected
performance that it will enact to meet its proposed levels of service objectives. To mitigate
funding gaps, the City can consider adjusting lifecycle strategies, which may include the
options provided below. Additional detailed strategies that apply to individual service areas
are also detailed in the Appendices.
-
Extend asset service life: the City could extend its planned service life for certain
asset groups that will not take on risk by doing so. The City should consider the
implications of this strategy on asset maintenance, and should strive to balance
maintenance and renewal costs to ensure it is replacing assets at the most financially
optimal time.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
-
Adopt new rehabilitation or renewal lifecycle strategies for applicable assets: assets
that are traditionally replaced could instead be rehabilitated or refurbished to extend
asset life at a potential lower cost. The benefits of rehabilitation/refurbishment as
opposed to replacement should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that
the City is taking the most financially prudent approach to lifecycle planning.
-
Shift renewal focus to high-risk/critical assets: when assets have competing priority
amongst limited funding, renewal work for low risk/low criticality assets could be
deferred to ensure that high priority assets are maintained. This should have the
effect of maximizing service levels to the community and minimizing risks.
-
Re-evaluate the City's approach to backlog: the City is currently operating with a level
of backlog that is equal to approximately 2.5% of its total asset replacement value.
Furthermore, the City has adopted the approach in this AM Plan analysis of striving to
eliminate backlog over a 27-year forecast period. The City can consider adapting its
lifecycle strategies to maintain a safe and low-risk level of backlog into the future. In
order to do this, it is recommended that the City expand its levels of service strategies
to include additional measures that report on the health of the assets/service areas to
ensure that services are not materially impacted while backlog exists.
-
Adopt dynamic lifecycle strategies based on criticality: presently, the City has
proposed the same lifecycle strategies for similar assets, independent of their
criticality. The City could investigate and adopt strategies that allow less critical assets
to remain in service longer than assets of the same type with higher criticality. This
would assist in easing financial pressures while keeping risks low.
Adjusting Asset Performance Expectations
The City's current proposed levels of service are established with the intent of maintaining
the City's current high performance in delivering services via assets to the community.
The City has also benefited from the fact that it is relatively young, and that many assets
(particularly the more expensive ones) are in the early or mid-stages of their service life.
As assets continue to age, the City may need to adjust asset performance expectations
and operate at a lower level of service while mitigating risks. Best practices would be to
engage the community to evaluate their willingness to pay against service levels and asset
performance.
Increasing Funding
Where funding gaps are identified, the City can seek additional funding to increase spending
and undertake additional capital renewal works. The following options are possible to
increase funding.
-
Modest increases to property taxation and/or user rates: the City can increase taxes
or rates above baseline revenue increases to generate more revenue.
-
Seek grant funding: the City can seek grant funding from the federal and/or provincial
governments. The City has done so in the past on a case-by-case basis and can
employ this strategy again moving forward.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
-
Increase the CAS levy: the City can increase the CAS levy (currently at 1.5%) to
generate more revenue.
-
Draw from reserves: available reserves can be used to balance near-term shortfalls
and excesses. Currently, the City has identified a funding shortfall for non-rate-
supported service areas. It can utilize a portion of its remaining reserve fund balances
to address the shortfall; however, it should be noted that the balance is not large
enough to address the entire 10-year shortfall identified in this financial strategy.
Reserves are intended to be allocated in times where there are larger needs.
Therefore, reserve funds can be utilized to address short-term pressures, but the City
should strive to keep reserves healthy and in balance in the long term.
-
Consider debt financing: the City generally attempts to avoid debt financing wherever
possible, but may utilize it to address short-term gaps in funding. Note that the City
has already approved some near-term debt financing related to state of good repair
needs for its stormwater management assets.
Each of the abovementioned options can assist the City in managing the identified shortfall;
however, a balance of these strategies will likely provide the most effective solution. As a
result, this 2025 AM Plan is recommending that the City move forward with a more detailed
analysis of these possible options. This will help the City determine the effect of each option
(or combinations of the options) that provides an appropriate balance of risks, levels of
service and costs. The City's Corporate Asset Management Team will continue to work
with the various City stakeholders to complete this analysis in the coming years. The City
will report its progress to Council on its continued asset management work through annual
updates--a requirement of O. Reg. 588/17.
5.4.2.2 Managing Risks Associated with the Shortfall
Where funding shortfalls and backlogs exist, the City is not always able to complete capital
renewal works to all assets that are currently in need. It is important to note that this does
not necessarily mean that the City is exposing the community to risk in doing so. The City
constantly ensures that assets are in service and operating well to preserve community
safety and maximize service delivery. It achieves this through a number of approaches,
including:
-
Prioritizing high risk/critical assets for renewals: the City enacts a robust risk
management evaluation of its capital projects each year to support the development
of its capital budget. It uses a standardized and common prioritization system that
incorporates the City's Risk Management strategy and framework to assist in project
selection. By doing this, it ensures that high-risk projects are prioritized.
-
Increasing maintenance activities: assets that are in need of renewals will likely
experience increased maintenance to ensure that they remain performing well and to
ensure that risks remain low.
-
Increasing monitoring: assets in need of renewals may have increased monitoring/
inspection frequencies to ensure that they remain in service and performing as
intended. Increasing monitoring/inspection frequencies allows the City to intervene at
an appropriate time to ensure risks to the community remain low.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
5.5
Implementing the Asset Management Plan and Financial Strategy
5.5.1
Supporting the City's Annual Capital Budgeting Process
This 2025 Asset Management Plan is primarily implemented via its integration into
the City's Capital Budgeting process. The Asset Management analysis completed in
this AM Plan aids in suggesting state of good repair asset renewal needs and helps
guide their priority through the Corporate Asset Management Risk Framework.
The development of state of good repair capital projects are informed through technical
studies and condition assessments (from the various divisions and departments) and
the suggested asset renewal needs from the EAM and Asset Management Plans. State
of good repair projects address existing asset needs that are due for rehabilitations and
replacements to ensure reliability and performance through alignment with the City's asset
management practices. As detailed in prior chapters, the EAM uses important asset data
(e.g. asset condition) and then applies asset level of service metrics, lifecycle activities, and
risk score considerations to produce suggested asset investment needs to assist staff in
developing state of good repair capital project decisions. The development of state of good
repair capital projects is also supported and determined through individual asset condition
studies and assessments completed by various departments and divisions.
For the development of growth-related capital projects, the City's long-term master plans
(e.g. Transportation Master Plan, Parks Plan, Fire Master Plan, Recreation and Culture
Plan, Development Charges Background Study) are used to reflect changing growth needs,
emerging priorities and external circumstances. This process enables the City to prioritize
growth-related capital projects, allocate resources efficiently, and make informed decisions
that support a growing, evolving and developing community.
Figure 50: Supporting the City's Capital Budget and Forecast
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
The prioritization of capital projects has been enhanced and is based on the EAM's Asset
Management Risk Framework, achieving the City's strategic priorities, and addressing any
regulatory needs. The funding source is dependent on the type of infrastructure investment,
being either state of good repair (existing assets), or new/growth assets. Projects with both
elements are funded based on the proportionate share.
The City's robust Capital Budgeting process results in an evidence-based optimal
prioritization of infrastructure needs and capital funding allocation. This approach ensures
all capital project requests are developed using a full holistic evidence-based approach
from a corporate-wide perspective to achieve strategic priorities. The City's EAM and asset
management planning helps inform the City's Capital Budgeting process for state of good
repair.
The financial strategy presented herein in the City's 2025 Asset Management Plan utilizes
the asset management analysis completed for this AM Plan, which combines the State of
the Infrastructure (Chapter 2), LOS (Chapter 3), and Asset Management Strategies (Chapter
5) to identify long-term asset needs that enable the City to achieve proposed levels of
service for its assets. The results of this analysis will be implemented by supporting the
City's 2026 capital budgeting process. This will assist the City's understanding of its state of
good repair needs, project priorities and the resulting effects on performance into the long
term.
The City will monitor the implementation of the asset management plan through annual
reports to Council. This is not only a requirement of O. Reg. 588/17, but also part
of a best practice that the City endeavours to continue. In 2023, the City developed
its inaugural State of the Infrastructure Report for all assets. The City will continue
to develop this report annually, which will form part of its annual reporting on the
implementation of the AM Plan to Council. This report will be supplemented by other
pertinent information as needed to inform Council on the progress of implementing this
AM Plan and will capture any progress or changes that may occur year over year.
5.5.2
Risks to Implementation
The implementation of this 2025 AM Plan could face several risks. An understanding of
these risks and an assessment of potential mitigations is a requirement of O. Reg. 588/17.
The following details these risks and potential mitigations.
Data Confidence: The City collects detailed asset data including inventories and condition
data that support the analysis completed for this AM Plan. The confidence of that data is
correlated to the accuracy of the results presented herein. The City's data confidence is
generally considered to be good on the whole; however, at present the City has not applied
a data confidence framework to its asset data to provide a detailed and common framework
for reporting its data confidence.
To mitigate this risk, the City can develop a data confidence framework and identify areas
for data improvement to assist in improving future asset management analyses. Note that a
change in data confidence may result in a change in the forecasting and financial analysis
presented herein.
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Asset Investment and Financial Strategy | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Climate Change: Climate change poses a significant risk to the City. The effects of climate
change could have significant and costly impacts on the City's lifecycle management
strategies for certain asset classes to ensure that they remain able to provide high quality
services to the community. For example, increased precipitation events could produce
flooding or accelerated deterioration to certain assets.
In response to this risk, the City has been proactively planning to address climate change
through a series of initiatives. Refer to Section 4.4 in this AM Plan for further details on
the City's efforts to date. The City will continue to advance its climate change initiatives to
proactively respond to climate change.
Economic Climate: The economic climate of the City and Canada as a whole has been
impacted by several economic factors in recent years. Recent bouts of high inflation have
contributed to increased cost pressures on asset lifecycle activities such as procurement,
maintenance and renewals. Furthermore, at the time of writing of this AM Plan, the United
States has imposed tariffs on Canadian exports, and Canada has responded with counter-
tariffs, which are likely to have financial impacts on the cost of delivering capital projects.
In the face of economic uncertainty and/or increased cost pressures, the City's financial
strategy and the implementation of this AM Plan could be affected.
To mitigate these concerns, the City assesses impacts to its current capital plan on an
ongoing basis. It will continue to complete asset management analyses and detailed capital
planning and prioritization exercises annually or as needed to rapidly adapt to changing
situations in the economic climate, in order to ensure that the City responds appropriately
and effectively.
Regulatory Environment: Changes in the regulatory environment occur from time to time,
which may have impacts on the City's asset portfolio. Regulation changes may result in a
need to modify, upgrade or replace certain assets ahead of schedule or for a different cost
compared to the analysis that was completed in this AM Plan.
Through annual monitoring of the implementation of this AM Plan, as well as the City's
annual capital planning process, the City can adapt and respond to these changes. This will
allow the City to react accordingly and ensure that it can respond to changes as proactively
as possible.
Change in Council Priorities: As Councils change over time, sometimes a change in
priorities of elected officials has an impact on the priorities which affect the City's current
capital planning processes.
City staff remain focused on delivering the best possible services to the community and
will continue to do so through any changes in priorities. In the same manner as regulatory
changes, the City will utilize its annual capital planning process to respond to these changes
over time. Integration between this AM Plan and the capital planning process is integral to
ensure that the City remains focused and able to respond proactively to change.
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Continuous Improvement | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Chapter 6
Continuous Improvement
East Humber Trail
Page 85
Continuous Improvement | 2025 Asset Management Plan
6.0
Continuous Improvement
6.1
Improving Data, Processes and Evidence-Based Decisions
Corporate Asset Management is committed to continuous improvement and has a
five-year plan to enhance data and processes for better evidence-based decisions
and regular reporting.
Throughout the City's corporate asset management journey, there were a number of lessons
learned and opportunities identified for continuous improvement. Some improvements were
implemented that advanced the City's Corporate Asset Management system and helped the
City achieve past and current regulatory requirements (detailed in Chapter 1).
There were also a number of other continuous improvement opportunities that were
identified for future consideration. Moving forward, the Corporate Asset Management Team
is committed to exploring these future enhancement opportunities and has developed a five-
year plan to improve the quality of asset data, strengthen asset management processes,
and progress annual monitoring and reporting.
The subsequent sections detail the specific actions and timelines to achieve these three
improvement goals over the next five years. Having an implementation plan for continuous
improvement is a cornerstone of asset management best practices.
This five-year continuous improvement plan aims to mature the accuracy of the
City's evidence-based corporate asset management capabilities and infrastructure
renewal forecasting. Continued collaboration among the City's various departmental
subject matter staff experts and the Corporate Asset Management Team will be key to
improving the quality of asset data and strengthening asset management processes.
Figure 51: Corporate Asset Management's Five-Year Continuous Improvement Plan
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Continuous Improvement | 2025 Asset Management Plan
6.1.1
Improving Asset Management Data Quality and Confidence
Data is used to understand asset behaviours and feeds into evidence-based asset
management analyses for more confident outcomes. The City leveraged its available asset
data along with industry best practices to develop this 2025 Asset Management Plan. During
that process, a number of opportunities were identified to further improve the quality and
reliability of its asset data to be used moving forward. The following specific actions below
outline the practical steps to realize this opportunity.
Actions
Timeline
(2025 - 2029)
Utilize results from the City's Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Computer
Models to improve reporting on Level of Service measures and increase the
maturity of the lifecycle technical strategies.
2026 - 2029
Collect data to support incorporating climate change adaptation
considerations into the asset management EAM Risk Framework.
2026
Improve corporate asset management condition assessment approaches,
methodologies and ratings for all assets to enhance accuracy and confidence
of asset condition results.
2026 - 2029
Improve understanding of operating and maintenance needs through analysis
of available data to refine lifecycle strategies and forecasting of future
operating and maintenance costs as new assets come into service.
2027 - 2029
Refresh lifecycle strategies and costs for all assets using the latest technical
studies, tender contract pricing, and other available data.
2028 - 2029
Incorporate historical asset treatments (e.g. type of treatment, timing and
costs) into the EAM to enhance capital forecasting of lifecycle activities.
2029
Table 6: Continuous Improvement Plan for Improving Data Quality and Confidence
Oak Ridges Library
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Continuous Improvement | 2025 Asset Management Plan
6.1.2
Strengthening Asset Management Processes
As highlighted in Chapter 1, the City implemented a number of foundational asset
management processes since 2018. These included the Lifecycle, Levels of Service and
Risk strategies for all assets, which were incorporated into the City's EAM. These have
enabled the City to complete asset management reporting and support capital programming
through the EAM's ability to forecast infrastructure renewals needs.
As the City's asset management program has advanced, opportunities to strengthen and
mature these processes have emerged. The proposed actions in the table below will seek to
realize these opportunities.
Actions
Timeline
(2025 - 2029)
Improve the corridor bundling function in the EAM for Core assets based on
past pilot results to enhance the accuracy of capital programming.
2025
Enhance the asset management EAM risk framework by integrating climate
change considerations using the climate-related data collected.
2026
Improve the EAM's reporting capabilities and visualization of outputs,
including developing mapping capabilities.
2026 - 2027
Extend the corridor bundling function to encompass all Non-Core road
right of way assets (e.g. traffic signals and street illumination) and create a
bundling function for other assets like parks and facilities.
2027 - 2028
Streamline the process of connecting capital and operating costs to enhance
the whole lifecycle costing approach for both existing and new assets.
2027 - 2028
Create a formal Corporate Asset Management Data Strategy that will include
protocols for all data and related processes for corporate asset management
planning.
2029
Table 7: Continuous Improvement Plan for Strengthening Asset Management Processes
Mill Pond
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Continuous Improvement | 2025 Asset Management Plan
6.1.3
Annual Asset Management Reporting
Updating the City's state of infrastructure data on an annual basis will allow for the most
currently available data to be used by the EAM for annual asset management reporting
as well as forecasting infrastructure renewal needs. This will improve the accuracy and
confidence of the EAM forecasted renewal needs and will be timed to align with supporting
the City's annual Capital Budgeting process. These annual updates will also provide insights
into year-over-year asset behavioural trends and will be leveraged to further refine asset
lifecycle strategies. Updating the State of Infrastructure annually will also allow the City
to meet its upcoming O. Reg. 588/17 regulatory requirements related to annual progress
reporting on the implementation of the City's Corporate Asset Management plan.
Actions
Timeline
(2025 - 2029)
Annually update the City's State of Infrastructure Report, including asset
inventories, replacement values, condition, ages and service life.
2026 - 2029
Annual reports to Council on the implementation of the City's AM Plan and
AM program.
2026 - 2029
Table 8: Continuous Improvement Plan for Annual Asset Management Reporting
Oak Ridges Community Centre
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Closing Remarks | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Chapter 7
Closing Remarks
Lake Wilcox
Page 90
Closing Remarks | 2025 Asset Management Plan
7.0
Closing Remarks
The City of Richmond Hill has presented this 2025 AM Plan, detailing its present state of
infrastructure, current and proposed levels of service, lifecycle strategies and a financial
strategy to achieve its proposed levels of service over the next 10 years. The City's asset
portfolio is worth $12.8 billion and the average age of most service areas in the asset
portfolio is below 30 years, which is relatively young. The City's asset portfolio is mostly in
Good and Very Good condition, which is in part due to its relatively young age, but also a
reflection of the City's success in managing its assets.
In 2021, the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) released a report entitled,
"Municipal Infrastructure: A Review of Ontario's Municipal Infrastructure and an Assessment
of the State of Repair."41In this report, the FAO identified a total municipal infrastructure
backlog of $52.1 billion for a total asset portfolio value of $484 billion. This represents
a backlog of renewal needs of 10.8% of the total replacement value of the municipal
infrastructure in the province (in 2021). In contrast, the City's current backlog of renewal
needs has been assessed at approximately 2.5% of the total current replacement value.
By comparison, the City's backlogged needs (by percentage of replacement value) are well
below the average value for municipalities in the province, further reinforcing that the City's
assets are performing well.
Given their young age, as well as future needs, the City is forecasting financial pressures
into the long term, particularly related to tax-funded assets, where a current funding shortfall
has been identified. As the City's assets continue to age, it will be difficult to continue
to achieve service levels if funding shortfalls are not addressed. This AM Plan has also
identified that financial pressures in the long term will be significant compared to today.
In the face of these challenges, the City has a significant advantage, as it has begun to
respond proactively, while it is still relatively young.
This AM Plan has provided recommendations on options to address funding shortfalls,
including increasing funding. Other options include adjusting asset lifecycle strategies and
adjusting asset performance expectations. The City's forthcoming asset management work
will focus on better understanding the balance of these options that will result in a path
forward that ensures costs are balanced with service levels, while risks are mitigated for the
long term.
Through the asset management program, the City will continue to work towards a better
understanding of the challenges and strategies pertaining to managing its assets and
delivering services now and into the future. Asset Management remains a key initiative that
the City can leverage to inform data-driven decisions and support the City's various subject
matter experts and key stakeholders in this effort.
4
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) (2021). Municipal Infrastructure: A Review of Ontario's Municipal
Infrastructure and an Assessment of the State of Repair.
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Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix A
Roadway System
East Beaver Creek Road and Norman Bethune Avenue
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Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Roadway System
The City of Richmond Hill's Roadway System consists of roads, municipal structures (which
include bridges and culverts greater than 3 metres in span), streetlights and traffic signals. The
Roadway System is also supported by operational fleet and equipment that is used to maintain
the City's roadway infrastructure.
Roads
Richmond Hill's road network spans a total of 1,225 lane-kilometres and
is mostly comprised of urban roads, which are roads that contain curbs
and storm drainage. Greater than 99% of the City's road network is paved
in asphalt and less than 0.5% of the network is paved with gravel. Roads
are classified as arterial (19 lane-km), collector (265 lane-km), and local
roads (941 lane-km). The size of the City's roads range in capacity, and
their classification is based on daily average traffic volumes and speed
limits. The City's roads conform to urban design standards and are tailored
to meet varying transportation needs, including optimizing traffic flow
and connectivity, enhancing safety, overall functionality and ensuring a
smooth driving experience for all road users. Richmond Hill's approach
to managing road infrastructure considers future growth, changing
demographics and integration with active transportation assets. The City's
road network is designed to be capable of accommodating increasing
traffic and evolving transportation trends over time.
Bridges and Culverts
Municipal structures include the City's bridges and road culverts that are
greater than 3 metres in span. Two thirds of the City's bridges follow a
similar construction style, consisting of a bridge deck supported by beams
referred to as "I-beam/girder bridges". Approximately 80% of the City's
road culverts are constructed of precast or cast-in-place concrete, and
the remaining are comprised of corrugated plate steel. The City's bridges
and culverts are strategically located to support traffic over openings, and
facilitate smooth vehicular and pedestrian movement within and throughout
the City. Culverts also facilitate effective water management, particularly in
managing stormwater runoff and preventing road flooding. This is crucial
for maintaining road safety and integrity, especially during adverse weather
conditions.
Church Street South
Mill Street
Page 93
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Roadway System
Streetlights
Richmond Hill's network of streetlights is comprised of over 14,000 City-
owned poles. This streetlight network plays a crucial role in the City's
commitment to public safety by illuminating transportation routes. They also
contribute to the City's urban aesthetic. Greater than 85% of City-owned
streetlight poles are constructed of concrete. Other materials for poles
include steel and aluminum. The comprehensive network of streetlights in
Richmond Hill is regularly maintained to ensure optimal performance and
energy efficiency. The City has converted the majority of its streetlights to
LED lights. The City's investment in LED technology reflects a forward-
thinking approach to energy conservation and environmental responsibility.
These technologies not only reduce energy consumption and costs but
also enhance the quality of lighting.
Traffic Signals and Beacons
Richmond Hill's traffic signals and beacons are a vital part of the City's
transportation infrastructure, ensuring the safe and efficient movement
of vehicles and pedestrians. There are 32 locations in the City with
traffic signals that consist of four key components: controller and cabinet
equipment, specialized signal pole equipment, traffic light pole equipment,
and the underground electrical infrastructure. Richmond Hill's traffic signals
include a variety of configurations, each tailored to the specific needs of its
location. The City regularly inspects traffic signals and ensures they meet
stringent standards for brightness, durability, functionality and reliability to
contribute to safer roads and intersections.
Transportation Fleet and Equipment
Transportation fleet and equipment are utilized to ensure the effective
and efficient operation, maintenance and repairs of the City's roadway
infrastructure. The operational fleet housed at the City's Operations Centre
consists of a variety of specialized vehicles, each tailored to support the
City's Roadway System. This fleet includes vehicles such as pickup and
dump trucks, plow trucks essential for winter road maintenance, street
sweepers for urban cleanliness, and salters critical for de-icing. The
diverse nature of this fleet highlights the City's preparedness for a range of
urban maintenance tasks, including winter maintenance, spring cleaning,
routine upkeep, and emergency response. The transportation operational
equipment encompasses a variety of machinery including, for example,
generators, tampers and high-efficiency snow and leaf blowers that are
essential for winter maintenance and spring seasonal upkeep and ensuring
pedestrian safety.
East Wilmot Street
East Beaver Creek Road
Page 94
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$1,989 M
Average Condition
B (Good)
Average Age / ESL
27 / 42 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity
Replacement
Value
Roads
1,225 lane-km
$1,700.1 M
Streetlights
14,134 ea.
$106.0 M
Traffic Signals/Beacons
32 ea.
$4.9 M
Bridges/Road Culverts
57 ea.
$158.3 M
Barriers
6,094 m
Retaining Walls
1,496 m2
Fleet and Equipment
A mix
$19.2 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
Roads
Streetlights
Traffic Signals and
Beacons
Bridges and
Road Culverts
Fleet and
Equipment
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
Condition Profile
Very Good
$243.7 M
12%
Good
$1,323.2 M
67%
Fair
$363.9 M
18%
Poor
$51.0 M
3%
Very Poor
$6.8 M
0.3%
B
(Good)
Avg. Condition
-
The City assesses its entire road network in a 3-year
cycle (one third per year). Pavement distresses including
cracks, degradation and other defects are inspected and
translated into a Pavement Quality Index (PQI) rating,
which measures overall road condition using a 100-point
condition rating scale.
-
The City is required by legislation to inspect its network
of bridges and road culverts every two (2) years, in
accordance with the Ontario Structure Inspection Manual
(OSIM). The City retains a consultant to complete these
assessments. Bridge defects are documented and are
translated into an overall Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
rating, which communicates condition using a 100-point
condition rating scale.
-
Streetlight condition is based on technical assessments
and age/estimated service life. Traffic signal condition is
based on age/estimated service life.
-
The condition of fleet and equipment is based on
utilization (km), age and estimated service life.
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Roads:
PQI
Streetlights:
Condition Assessment
and Age/ESL
Traffic Signals:
Age/ESL
Bridges and
Culverts:
BCI
Fleet and Equipment:
Utilization and Age/
ESL
Very Good
A
>90 to 100
>0.8 to 1.0
0% to 25%
>80 to 100
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>70 to 90
>0.6 to 0.8
>25% to 50%
>70 to 80
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>45 to 70
>0.4 to 0.6
>50% to 75%
>50 to 70
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>20 to 45
>0.2 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>35 to 50
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
0 to 20
0 to 0.2
>100%
0 to 35
0 to 0.2
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Page 95
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: Richmond Hill's Roadway System provides a well-connected,
sustainable, multi-modal and inclusive network for all users, including motorists, pedestrians,
and cyclists.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in collaboration with the
community, including planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Land Use Planning
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Leverage Green
Infrastructure
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Transportation Master Plan
- Better and enhanced roads
- Plan for all modes of travel
- Goods Movement
- Complete Streets
- Transportation Demand
Management
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Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Road Network Connectivity
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description, which may include maps, of the road network in the municipality and its
level of connectivity.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Entire Road Network
The City of Richmond Hill is connected by a grid-based road network that encompasses provincial
highways, regional roads, and City-owned arterial, collector, and local roadways. The City-owned series
of arterial, collector, and local roads provide important connections that link and support the arterial road
system to promote the flow of traffic, people and goods. These roads also facilitate connections between
neighbourhoods, city centers, commercial zones, industrial areas, and the wider regional road framework.
Provincial Highways 404 and 407, which flank the City's eastern and southern boundaries, further promote
goods movement and connect commuters within Richmond Hill and to neighbouring municipalities. The figure
on the following page provides a map of the City's road connectivity. The City's road network, including roads,
municipal structures and other roadway assets, is anticipated to expand over time in response to projected
growth and evolving community needs, through the construction of new and enhanced infrastructure. These
needs are addressed through the City's Transportation Master Plan.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
# of lane-kilometres of arterial
roads as a proportion of square
kilometres of land area of the
municipality
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
0.2
Increase in alignment
with the City's
Transportation Master
Plan
Scope
# of lane-kilometres of collector
roads as a proportion of square
kilometres of land area of the
municipality
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
2.6
Increase in alignment
with the City's
Transportation Master
Plan
Scope
# of lane-kilometres of local
roads as a proportion of square
kilometres of land area of the
municipality
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
9.3
Increase in alignment
with the City's
Transportation Master
Plan
Technical Levels of Service
Page 97
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Road Network Connectivity
Page 98
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Municipal Structures Network Status
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description of the traffic that is supported by municipal bridges (e.g., heavy transport
vehicles, motor vehicles, emergency vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists).
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Municipal Structures (Bridges and Road Culverts)
The City's structural bridges are designed to support transport vehicles, motor vehicles, emergency
vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. The ongoing maintenance and renewal of these structures also satisfies
the requirements of O. Reg. 104/97: Standards for Bridges under the Public Transportation and Highway
Improvement Act (PTHIA) to ensure they continue to support the different type of traffic users while including
any special considerations for ecologically sensitive environmental features.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Percentage of bridges in the
municipality with loading or
dimensional restrictions
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
0%
Maintain at 0%
Technical Levels of Service
High Tech Road Bridge
Page 99
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Condition of Road Network
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality
Performance Measure: Description or images that illustrate the different levels of road class pavement
condition.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Entire Road Network
The following images illustrate the road condition in various condition states, as well as the corresponding PQI
score.
Very Good
(PQI = >90 to 100)
Good
(PQI = >70 to 90)
Fair
(PQI = >45 to 70)
Poor
(PQI = >20 to 45)
Very Poor
(PQI = 0 to 20)
Page 100
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Condition of Road Network
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Average pavement condition
index value for paved roads
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
78 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Quality
Average surface condition (e.g.
excellent, good, fair or poor) for
unpaved roads
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
Fair
Maintain
Reliability
Percentage of roads in Fair or
better condition
City-Defined
97%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of traffic signals in
Fair or better condition
City-Defined
80%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of streetlights in Fair
or better condition*
City-Defined
97%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Technical Levels of Service
Spruce Avenue
*The condition of streetlights is based on a previous assessment, and represents the City's best understanding of condition to date
The City plans to re-evaluate the condition assessment approach and LOS measures for streetlights as needed, which will be updated
in future versions of the AM Plan.
Page 101
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Condition of Municipal Structures
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality
Performance Measure: Description or images of the condition of bridges and how this would affect use of the
bridges; Description or images of the condition of culverts and how this would affect use of the culverts.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Municipal Structures (Bridges and Road Culverts)
The following images illustrate bridge and culvert condition in various condition states, as well as the
corresponding BCI score.
Very Good
(BCI = >80 to 100)
Good
(BCI = >70 to 80)
Fair
(BCI = >50 to 70)
Poor
(BCI = >35 to 50)
Very Poor
(BCI = 0 to 35)
Page 102
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Condition of Municipal Structures
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
For bridges in the municipality,
the average bridge condition
index value
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
75 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Quality
For structural culverts in the
municipality, the average bridge
condition index value
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
73 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Reliability
Percentage of bridges in Fair or
better condition (BCI score)
City-Defined
100%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of culverts in Fair or
better condition (BCI score)
City-Defined
100%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Technical Levels of Service
Boake Trail Culvert
Page 103
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Other
The City has developed a suite of additional LOS measures for some of its assets, that it utilizes to understand,
monitor and report on various aspects of the service. It expects to expand and enhance these over time, as it
continues to improve its LOS framework and performance measures.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Environmental
Percentage of streetlights with
LED or low energy fixtures
City
77%
Increase*
Technical Levels of Service
*The City replaces streetlight fixtures with LED as they age and require replacement. As a result, this number is expected to increase
over time as the City continues to renew this infrastructure as part of its anticipated lifecycles and replacement programs.
Augustine Avenue and Kingshill Road
Page 104
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-
Infrastructure
- The City makes continuous improvements in operations as well as other initiatives related to
improving asset data capture, utilization of IT systems (e.g. pavement management system),
etc.
- Ongoing studies and assessments of asset condition and functionality (e.g. bridges, culverts
and road inspections)
Maintenance
- The City performs routine maintenance for its roads and structures (per O. Reg. 239/02:
Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways) such as street sweeping, pothole
patching, utility cut repairs, expansion joint cleaning, regular municipal structure maintenance,
snow and ice removal, etc.
- The City performs testing, inspections and maintenance on traffic signals and their
components, and street lighting and luminaires.
- Fleet and equipment are maintained per recommended standards.
Rehabilitation
- The rehabilitation activities for roads are based on the assets' current condition and projected
deterioration given its surface thickness, base strength and traffic volumes. Rehabilitation
treatment types include crack sealing and resurfacing. The suggested timing of these
treatments is identified by the appropriate phase in their lifecycle.
- Bridge and culvert rehabilitations are based on inspection recommendations from inspections,
and can include minor and/or major rehabilitations.
- Traffic signals and streetlights are rarely rehabilitated but instead replaced when they have
reached the end of their service life and/or are not functioning.
- Fleet and equipment are not typically rehabilitated, but are traditionally replaced at end of life.
Replacement
- Roads are reconstructed once rehabilitation options are exhausted. Road reconstructions are
considered for bundling with interventions on different assets within their right of way and/or
underneath the road, such as watermains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers and/or streetlights, to
minimize costs and impact to residents.
- Structural bridges and culverts are generally replaced based on recommendations from
inspections and their observed condition, age, and ESLs.
- Traffic signals, street lighting and fleet/equipment are typically replaced when their condition
and/or age indicate they have reached end of life and/or are no longer functioning as intended.
Disposal
- Roadway, bridge, and culvert material disposals are in line with best practices and regulations.
- Traffic signal assets, streetlights and fleet and equipment are disposed at the end of their life.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- The City's Transportation Master Plan and Development Charges Background Study provide
recommendations to upgrade and/or expand the road network based on an analysis of future
population and employment growth and the evolving vision for the City. New and expanded
Roadway assets are also identified through technical analysis as part of servicing plans for new
developments.
- Assets are identified for replacement to meet current standards and/or implement operational
improvements, e.g. streetlights are converted to LED or low energy fixtures.
- Urbanization of roads is considered and balanced with state of good repair renewal needs.
- Improvement activities may include technologies such as pavement material alternatives and
new pavement design processes, e.g. the City's updated design standards.
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Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Roads Lifecycle
Crack Sealing
Full Mill and Overlay
Full Reconstruction
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Pavement Quality Index (PQI)
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
The City's roads lifecycle treatments would typically include crack sealing (first 10 to 15 years), mill and overlay (between
20 and 30 years) and full reconstruction sometime after 40 years. The timing for these treatments can vary depending
on the rate of deterioration and balancing the need for renewal, improving function and bundling the road work with the
underground water, sewer and/or storm main renewals. The City's roads lifecycle and deterioration model is based on the
thickness of the surface, the strength of the base, and traffic volumes.
Bridges and Road Culverts Lifecycle
Minor Rehabilitation
Major Rehabilitation
Full Replacement
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Age (Years)
With Interventions
Without Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
The City's lifecycle strategies for structures are based on the findings and recommendations from biennial OSIM
inspections and industry best practices. This approach is designed to support general lifecycle interventions with the
recommendations in the OSIM biennial inspections for more specific capital renewal. The City's model identifies minor
(between 20 and 30 years of age) and major (between 50 and 60 years of age) rehabilitations with eventual replacements
between 70 and 80 years. The timing of these depends on the structure type, material and shape.
Page 106
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Traffic Signals and Streetlights Lifecycle
Maintenance and Repairs
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
For traffic signals and streetlights, the City's lifecycle model forecasts that they would typically be replaced at the end
of their service life (typically 40 years) or bundled with road reconstruction projects, and would not receive any major
rehabilitations. However, these assets may be replaced sooner if they are no longer functioning and/or are damaged due
to weather or other events, or may be kept in service longer for operational reasons.
Fleet and Equipment Lifecycle
Maintenance and Repairs
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
The City's lifecycle model forecasts that fleet and equipment would typically be replaced at the end of their service life.
While fleet and equipment would receive regular ongoing maintenance to ensure they are functioning and reach the end
of their service life, they would not typically receive major rehabilitations. These assets may be replaced sooner based on
usage and/or premature wear and tear or may be kept in service longer for operational reasons.
Maintenance and Repairs
Maintenance and Repairs
Page 107
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Roads
- Bridges/Culverts
- Streetlights
- Traffic Signals
- Fleet/Equipment
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current capacity
- Future expansion/
new need
identified in
budget, plan or
study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Traffic counts
- Road
classification
- Land use
- Type/function
- Environmental
compliance
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$568 M
$1,244 M
$176 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$200 M
$400 M
$600 M
$800 M
$1,000 M
$1,200 M
$1,400 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- The Transportation Master Plan; and, the City Parking and Transportation Demand Management Strategy provide
the appropriate mix of transportation options and exploring alternative modes of transportation (e.g. micromobility)
to reduce impact and emissions on the environment.
- Conversion of streetlights to LED or low energy fixtures which require less energy, thus emit less GHG emissions.
- Ongoing inspections and regular maintenance, repair and replacement of roads, structures, streetlights and traffic
signals from the effects of climate events.
Page 108
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Backlog
$84.2 M
Proposed LOS
+$2.8 to $3.3 M/yr
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Roadway System ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$2.8 to $3.3 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
*State of good repair need for on-road cycling facilities (bike lanes) included with roads
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Roadway
84.2
14.7
+2.8 to 3.3
284.6
28.5
1,468.5
54.4
Page 109
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Roadway System (All)
Page 110
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Roads
Pavement Quality Index (PQI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Pavement Quality Index (PQI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$2.8 to $3.3 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
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Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Bridges and Culverts
Bridge Condition Index (BCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$2.8 to $3.3 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
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Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Traffic Signals
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Streetlights
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 113
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's Transportation Master Plan recommends a balanced future transportation network that will
service the increasing travel demand from projected growth. It also provides policies, transportation and
trails initiatives, and recommended new and enhanced transportation infrastructure required to meet the
evolving needs of the City phased to 2051. In addition to the recommended new and enhanced transportation
infrastructure through the TMP, this 2025 Asset Management Plan identifies that significant investment into
renewal of the City's existing transportation network would be required to achieve proposed service levels.
These two plans will inform the City's 10-Year Capital Budgets and Forecasts.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
$60 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
$30 M
$35 M
$40 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Richmond Hill's Roadway System remains a top priority in the City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast,
with continued transformative upgrades planned over the next decade. These projects, guided by the
recommendations of the Transportation Master Plan, are focused on expanding road capacity, reducing
congestion, improving traffic flow, and enhancing connectivity. The most substantial investments include East
and West Beaver Creek Road Improvements at $43.1 million, Newkirk Road Improvements at $18.5 million,
High Tech Road Improvements at $9.8 million, and Vogell Road - Rouge River Bridge Contribution at $4.5
million. Additional investments include Annual Traffic Improvements ($3.9 million) and other traffic-related
enhancements to further improve safety and efficiency throughout Richmond Hill's roadway network.
The estimated operating and maintenance costs to service the maintenance of existing and new growth-related
capital roadway assets are forecasted to steadily increase over the next 10 years. It is projected to grow from
around $25 million in 2025 to around $27 million by 2034 (excluding future inflationary pressures), reflecting
incremental increases annually. These projections are based on the assumption that growth-related road
expansion projects will be constructed as planned over the next 10 years.
Page 114
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Future Outlook
Findings and Insights
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
The City has selected proposed levels of service and performance targets to ensure long-term sustainability
and minimize community risk. Based on asset needs forecasts over the next 27 years, the City has identified
major financial challenges in providing the proposed level of service required to maintain high-quality services
for the community. These financial pressures are mostly related to the roads asset class, which makes up
greater than 85% of the value of the City's Roadway System portfolio.
The financial pressures associated with other asset classes in this portfolio, including municipal structures,
streetlights, traffic signals, and fleet and equipment are minimal in comparison to roads, and providing the
City's proposed levels of service for these asset classes is anticipated to be both achievable and affordable for
the City.
The primary issue that the City will face in the coming years will be to balance affordability and service levels
for its roads, which are among the most expensive assets to maintain within the City. The forecasts produced
for this AM Plan have indicated that additional funding would be needed to achieve the City's proposed LOS
for roads. Note that in the short to medium term, service levels should not decline substantially, should current
funding trends continue. Under this scenario, service levels are expected to decline minimally within the
next 5 years. By the 10-year mark, they are expected to decline further, but still can be maintained within an
acceptable range. Beyond 10 years, the City is forecasted to experience a significant drop in service levels
unless additional spending is allocated towards roads.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
The City has identified a shortfall for non-rate supported assets. In the near and medium term, the City is
focusing its efforts on better understanding and developing a response to these long-term pressures for roads.
Several options can be considered, including the following:
- Balancing road condition with funding: the City must ensure that service levels are maintained within an
acceptable range, but should investigate pursuing a lower level of service (in the long term) that does
not compromise safety, risk and long-term sustainability. This could be balanced against increasing
investment in roads to achieve a middle ground, where services can still be provided to an acceptable
standard, for an acceptable cost.
- Investigate alternate approaches to addressing backlog: the City is currently operating with a level
of backlog in its road network assets. Furthermore, it is likely that backlogs have always existed,
even before they were measured and reported regularly. Even with backlogs, the City has managed
to provide a high level of service for its road network assets. The City will investigate the effects of
continuing to operate with a sustainable, and manageable level of backlog. This can be achieved by
monitoring additional aspects of asset performance to ensure that service levels remain high, even with
continued backlogs in the network, while ensuring overall system functionality and keeping risk low.
- Prioritize high risk roads for rehabilitations and replacements: the City will focus its renewal efforts
on roads that are higher risk, to ensure risks are minimized under funding constraints. The City's risk
management strategy and framework supports this endeavour by providing a systematic approach to
identifying risks and prioritizing projects based on risk.
Page 115
Appendix A: Roadway System | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Future Outlook
Findings and Insights
- Increase maintenance activities when necessary: should road network condition decline, which is
anticipated to occur simply through the natural aging of these assets, the City will ensure high levels of
service by continuing to provide maintenance and operating activities that ensure the overall community
experience remains high. Activities including crack sealing, filling potholes and other localized repairs
can keep roads maintained and operating to the level that the community is used to.
- Pursue alternate renewal strategies: the City can investigate focusing its efforts on renewals that
reduce the most risk for dollars spent, such as resurfacing high risk roads that are still in good condition
before they fall out of their available window to resurface. These types of strategies may provide a more
efficient way of stretching budget dollars and ensuring that in the long term, the overall performance of
the road network is maintained to a higher level in the most efficient manner.
In addition to the above-mentioned strategies, the City plans to continually improve its analysis, forecasting,
and data to ensure the forecasts in plans like the AM Plan are as accurate as possible. Some such activities
include:
- Improving asset data: the City can investigate filling in asset data gaps or collecting additional types of
performance data to better understand asset lifecycle needs and system performance.
- Calibrate lifecycle models: the City's lifecycle models have been developed using expert knowledge
coupled with insight on the City's road network. Through its asset management program, the City
has been collecting data regularly in a consistent and repeatable process. As the City collects more
and more data, it can use that data to calibrate its forecasting models to ensure they are better
representative of what is happening to the City's road network. This can give the City a better
understanding of financial needs moving forward.
Bethesda Side Road
Page 116
Appendix B
Active Transportation
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Page 117
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Active Transportation
The City of Richmond Hill's Active Transportation network is comprised of sidewalks, bicycle
lanes, multi-use paths and trails. Together, these assets provide accessible, reliable and
sustainable modes of travel to the community.
Bicycle Lanes and Cycle Tracks
The City of Richmond Hill's extensive network of bicycle lanes and cycle
tracks is a cornerstone of its Active Transportation amenities within the
road right of way. Spanning over 170 kilometres, these lanes consist of
a variety of types, including those shared with motor vehicles (on-road
bike lanes), those that utilize the roadway shoulder (paved shoulder), and
those that are dedicated buffered bike lanes. These allow for seamless
integration of cycling into the everyday flow of traffic. The design of these
lanes and tracks reflects a deep understanding of cyclists' needs and the
City's traffic dynamics, striking a balance between functionality, safety, and
environmental stewardship. It is a testament to Richmond Hill's forward-
thinking approach to urban planning and its commitment to fostering a
green, healthy, and accessible community.
Sidewalks and Walkways
The sidewalks and walkways in Richmond Hill, which span over 700
kilometres, are a key aspect of the City's Active Transportation network
within the road right of way. The sidewalks are primarily constructed of
concrete, a choice reflecting the City's focus on durability and year-round
accessibility. Asphalt and unit paver-style walkways are also constructed
in smaller quantities and provide enhanced aesthetics and functionality in
select areas. The City's walkways include concrete, asphalt and unit paver
construction types. These cater to varied pedestrian experiences while
seamlessly integrating with the urban landscape. They are strategically
designed to improve connectivity within the community, making pedestrian
movement more fluid and accessible.
Norman Bethune Avenue
Elgin Mills Road East
Page 118
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Active Transportation
Multi-Use Paths
Richmond Hill's multi-use paths currently span approximately 16 kilometres
and are part of the City's Lake to Lake Trail Route, which is an important
element of its Active Transportation network. A portion of the Lake to
Lake Trail Route has been completed, with progress continuing to further
develop the trail. These asphalt-paved paths offer a robust, versatile route
for pedestrians and cyclists alike, connecting key north-south destinations
and communities. This initiative aligns with the City's vision of fostering an
inclusive and connected urban environment that enhances the mobility and
quality of life for its residents.
Trails
Trails in Richmond Hill are an integral part of the City's Active
Transportation Network outside the right of way. Extending approximately
140 kilometres, these trails are located primarily within parks and open
spaces and offer a diverse range of user experiences such as walking
and cycling. They are alternately referred to as recreational trails, off-
road trails, park pathways and walkways. These routes provide residents
with opportunities for passive recreation and to escape the City to
connect with nature in the City's Greenway System, while protecting and
preserving these environmentally sensitive areas. They also serve as a
vital connection between different areas of the City, enhancing mobility and
accessibility. The City's trails are constructed of various materials, including
asphalt, concrete, unit pavers, crushed limestone, granite, and some
natural surfaces catering to various recreational and transportation needs.
Various stair structures are also included as part of the City's trail inventory
Richmond Hill's trails are a reflection of the City's dedication to promoting
an active, healthy and engaged community.
Outdoor Crossings
Outdoor crossings are a network of 116 pedestrian structures comprising
of boardwalks (44), bridges (68), and lookouts (4). Outdoor crossings
are primarily located in parks and open spaces and play a crucial role in
promoting the enjoyment of Richmond Hill's diverse outdoor spaces as well
as enhancing pedestrian accessibility. These structures serve as integral
links in the City's Active Transportation network, fostering environmental
sustainability and community engagement. These assets are primarily
constructed with timber, complemented by concrete (pre-cast and cast-in-
place) and steel to ensure structural integrity and aesthetic harmony with
the natural environment.
Lake to Lake Route
RHDDO Park Trail
Trans Richmond Trail Boardwalk
Page 119
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$500 M
Average Condition
B (Good)
Average Age / ESL
23 / 49 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity
Replacement
Value
Bicycle Lanes/Cycle Tracks
175 km
$67.1 M
Sidewalks/Walkways
709 km
$270.3 M
Multi-Use Paths
16 km
$8.7 M
Trails*
140 km
$75.4 M
Outdoor Crossings
3 km
$78.9 M
116 ea.
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
Bicycle Lanes
and Cycle
Tracks
Sidewalks and
Walkways
Multi-Use Paths
Trails
Outdoor
Crossings
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
Condition Profile
Very Good
$128.5 M
26%
Good
$201.0 M
40%
Fair
$125.8 M
25%
Poor
$24.2 M
5%
Very Poor
$20.8 M
4%
B
(Good)
Avg. Condition
- Sidewalks are inspected for deficiencies on an annual
basis. Any deficiencies are corrected. The condition rating
for sidewalks is based on a combination of the number
and type of deficiencies, and age/estimated service life.
- The condition for on-road bicycle lanes is based on the
Pavement Quality Index (PQI) of the road identified
through the City's road inspection program.
- Trails are inspected for deficiencies annually. Any
deficiencies identified are corrected. The condition rating
for trails is based on a combination of the number and
type of deficiencies, and age/estimated service life.
- The condition of multi-use paths and cycle tracks are
based on age and estimated service life.
- The City is required by legislation to inspect outdoor
crossings every two (2) years in accordance with the
Ontario Structure Inspection Manual (OSIM). The
City retains a consultant to complete these condition
assessments. Defects are documented and translated
into a Bridge Condition Index (BCI) rating.
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Bicycle
Lanes:
PQI
Cycle Tracks:
Age/ESL
Sidewalks: Condition
Assessment and
Age/ESL
Multi-Use
Paths:
Age/ESL
Trails: Condition
Assessment and
Age/ESL
Outdoor
Crossings:
BCI
Very Good
A
>90 to 100
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
>80 to 100
Good
B
>70 to 90
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
>70 to 80
Fair
C
>45 to 70
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
>50 to 70
Poor
D
>20 to 45 >75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
>35 to 50
Very Poor
F
0 to 20
>100%
0 to 0.2
>100%
0 to 0.2
0 to 35
*This asset group captures trail surfaces. Retaining walls associated with
trails are captured in the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Service.
Page 120
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: Richmond Hill's Active Transportation network enables multiple
modes of transportation, including walking and cycling to provide accessible, reliable and
sustainable modes of travel to the community.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in collaboration with the
community, including planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Land Use Planning
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Leverage Green
Infrastructure
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Transportation Master Plan
- Build Active
Transportation Network
- Plan for all modes of travel
- Goods movement
- Complete Streets
- Transportation Demand
Management
Page 121
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Active Transportation Network
Connectivity
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description and map of the active transportation network in the municipality and its
level of connectivity.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Active Transportation Network
The City's Active Transportation network provides integrated, reliable, accessible and sustainable travel
modes for the community. The City's Active Transportation infrastructure includes a combination of on-
road cycling facilities, sidewalks, cycle tracks, multi-use paths, park and natural area trails and pedestrian
crossings (bridges, boardwalks and lookouts). These routes aim to connect neighbourhoods with a broader
transportation spine network that enables pedestrians, cyclists and other users to connect to important
destinations in the City. These include community centres, arenas, libraries, commercial areas, transit, parks
and natural areas. The Active Transportation network within parks and natural areas also allows residents
and visitors to connect with nature in the City's Greenway System, while protecting and preserving these
environmentally sensitive areas and promoting a strong sense of community and health. The City's Active
Transportation network is anticipated to expand over time in response to projected growth and evolving
community needs, through the construction of new and enhanced infrastructure. These needs are addressed
through the City's Transportation Master Plan.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Km of bicycle lanes to sq. km of
land area
City-Defined
1.7
Increase in
alignment
with the City's
Transportation
Master Plan
Scope
Km of trails/multi-use paths to sq.
km of land area
City-Defined
1.5
Increase in
alignment
with the City's
Transportation
Master Plan
Scope
Km of sidewalks/walkways to sq.
km of land area
City-Defined
7.0
Increase in
alignment
with the City's
Transportation
Master Plan
Technical Levels of Service
Page 122
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Active Transportation Network
Connectivity
Page 123
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Active Transportation Network
Condition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how the condition of Active Transportation Assets is measured and
reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Active Transportation Network
The City undertakes formal condition assessments of sidewalks and trails annually. The number and type of
surface deficiencies that would be felt by the community are tracked and assessed. These are combined with
the age and estimated service life to determine a performance score from 0 to 100, which are categorized into
condition ranges illustrated below.
Examples of Trail Condition Rating Categories
Very Good
(Performance =
>0.8 to 1.0)
Good
(Performance =
>0.6 to 0.8)
Fair
(Performance =
>0.4 to 0.6)
Poor
(Performance =
>0.2 to 0.4)
Very Poor
(Performance =
0 to 0.2)
Page 124
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Active Transportation Network
Condition
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Average Sidewalk Condition
Index (SCI)
City-Defined
62 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Quality
Average Trail Condition Index
(TCI)
City-Defined
61 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Quality
Average Bridge Condition Index
(BCI) - outdoor crossings
City-Defined
82 (Very Good)
Maintain
(Good or better
condition)
Reliability
Percentage of sidewalks within
service life
City-Defined
95%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of cycling facilities
within service life
City-Defined
93%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of trails within service
life
City-Defined
94%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Technical Levels of Service
Page 125
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City makes continuous improvements in operations as well as other initiatives related to
improving asset data capture, utilization of IT systems (e.g. Maximo), employee capabilities,
etc.
- Ongoing studies and assessments of asset conditions and functionality are undertaken
(e.g. annual sidewalk, annual trail inspections, biennial OSIM inspection of outdoor crossing
structures).
- The City also undertakes planning-related studies (e.g. Transportation Master Plan)
Maintenance
- The City performs regular maintenance of its Active Transportation network such as sweeping/
cleaning, line painting, shrub/tree pruning and snow removal, through inspections, patrol, and
complaints.
- The City performs sidewalk and trail maintenance to undertake the required infrastructure
repairs, soft surface top-ups, hazard tree removal, vegetation clearing, and hard surface
repairs.
- Outdoor crossings are inspected, maintained and repaired as required.
Rehabilitation
- The rehabilitation of on-road bicycle facilities would typically be part of the rehabilitation of
the roads themselves based on their current condition and projected deterioration given
their surface and base strength. Treatment types include crack sealing and resurfacing. The
suggested timings of these treatments are identified by the appropriate phase in their lifecycle.
- For sidewalks and trails, rehabilitation can include a variety of treatments depending on their
surface type, e.g. patching, crack sealing, soft surface top up, replacing damaged pavers.
- Outdoor crossings undergo minor and/or major rehabilitation based on results from biennial
OSIM inspections.
Replacement
- On-road bicycle facilities are typically reconstructed as part of the road reconstruction.
- Sidewalks and other active transportation assets within the road right of way are typically
replaced when their condition has deteriorated, and they have reached the end of their service
life. These assets are also typically coordinated with the road reconstruction for bundling into
capital projects to minimize costs and impacts to residents.
- For trails outside the right of way (e.g. in parks), they are typically replaced (concrete and
asphalt) and/or have their surfaces topped up (soft surfaces) depending on the surface type.
- Outdoor crossings are replaced when their condition warrants it and/or have reached end of life.
Disposal
- Disposals are typically coordinated with the asset reconstructions and/or replacements.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- Enhanced and new Active Transportation network improvements are planned through the
Transportation Master Plan, which details upgraded cycling facilities, trails and sidewalks.
- New and expanded active transportation assets are also identified through technical analyses
as part of plans completed to support new developments.
- Other improvements may include upgrades to active transportation surface materials (e.g.
converting a soft surface trail to a hard surface, replacing interlocking sidewalks with concrete)
Page 126
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
On-Road Cycling Facility Lifecycle
Crack Sealing
Full Mill and Overlay
Full Reconstruction
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Pavement Quality Index (PQI)
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
The lifecycle of on-road cycling amenities is tied to roads. The City's roads lifecycle treatments would typically include
crack sealing (first 10 to 15 years), mill and overlay (between 20 and 30 years) and full reconstruction sometime after 40
years. The timing for these treatments can vary depending on the rate of deterioration and balancing the need for renewal,
improving function and bundling the road work with the underground water, sewer and/or storm main renewals. The City's
roads lifecycle and deterioration model is based on the thickness of the surface, the strength of the base, and traffic
volumes.
Concrete Sidewalk Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
The City's lifecycle strategies for sidewalks are generally based on reconstruction when their condition has deteriorated
and/or they are at the end of their service life (typically 50 years). The timing of sidewalk replacements can vary as
their reconstruction could be coordinated with the road reconstruction and/or other adjacent sidewalks for bundling into
capital projects to minimize costs and impacts to residents. These may also be reconstructed sooner if they are no longer
functioning and/or have premature damage, or could be kept in service longer if in good condition.
Page 127
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Outdoor Crossings Lifecycle
Maintenance and Repairs
Minor Rehabilitation
Major Rehabilitation
Full Replacement
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Age (Years)
With Interventions
Without Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
The City's lifecycle strategies for outdoor crossings are based on the findings and recommendations from biennial OSIM
inspections and industry best practices. This approach is designed to support general lifecycle interventions with the
recommendations in the OSIM biennial inspections for more specific capital renewal. The City's model identifies minor
(between 20-30 years of age) and major (between 50-60 years of age) rehabilitations with eventual replacements between
70-80 years. The timing of these depends on the structure type, material and shape.
Asphalt Trail Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
For trails outside the right of way (e.g. in parks or open spaces), the City's lifecycle model forecasts they are typically
replaced when their condition has deteriorated whereby they no longer provide a reliable platform and/or are at the end of
their service life (depending on material type). The timing can vary as their replacement could be coordinated with nearby
work where possible to minimize costs. These may also be replaced sooner if they are no longer functioning and/or have
premature damage, or could be kept in service longer if in good condition.
Maintenance and Repairs
Page 128
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Bicycle Lanes/
Cycle Tracks
- Sidewalks
- Multi-Use Paths
- Trails
- Outdoor Crossings
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified
in budget, plan
or study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Traffic counts
- Road
classification
- Land use
- Park classification
- Asset type/
function
- Environmental
compliance
- Impact to
surrounding
area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$191 M
$292 M
$17 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$100 M
$200 M
$300 M
$400 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- Advance active and sustainable transportation projects, e.g. Lake to Lake Cycling Route, Hwy 404 flyover, DDO
Pedestrian/Cyclist Bridge and Recreation Trail project.
- Enhance pedestrian connections and walkability through the annual Sidewalk Program.
- Collaborate with all levels of government for the Yonge North Subway Extension project and with York Region on
regionally-led active transportation projects.
- Completed updates to the City's Standards and Specifications Manual to incorporate active transportation
considerations at road cross-sections.
- Educational and outreach efforts through the Smart Commute workplace program
- Monitoring emerging sustainable transportation trends and technologies, and exploring an Electric Vehicle Strategy
Page 129
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Active Transportation ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
$30 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
*State of good repair need for on-road cycling facilities (bike lanes) included with roads
Backlog
$14.2 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Active
Transportation
14.2
0.1
+0.5 to 0.7
27.9
2.8
213.0
7.9
Page 130
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Active Transportation (All)
Page 131
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Sidewalks
Sidewalk Condition Index (SCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Sidewalk Condition Index (SCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 132
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Trails
Trail Condition Index (TCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Trail Condition Index (TCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 133
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Outdoor Crossings
Bridge Condition Index (BCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Outdoor Crossing Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 134
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's Transportation Master Plan recommends an enhanced Active Transportation network to service the
increasing travel demand from growth and achieve the desired vision for Richmond Hill. It includes new and
expanded active transportation infrastructure to be phased in over time to 2051. In addition to expanding the
City's Active Transportation network, this 2025 Asset Management Plan also identifies that renewals of the
City's existing active transportation assets are required to maintain them in a good state of repair. These two
plans will inform future enhancements and the state of good repair asset renewal investment needs for active
transportation through the City's annual 10-Year Capital Budgets and Forecasts.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
$14 M
$16 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
The City's Active Transportation network is poised for advancement through projects outlined in the 10-Year
Capital Budget and Forecast, aligned with the Transportation Master Plan. The CN Rail Overpass (Linear Park
to Subway) project, with an investment of $8.7 million, remains a cornerstone for enhancing pedestrian and
cyclist connectivity. A Sidewalk Infill Program, with a total allocation of $5.4 million through 2034, continues to
support City-wide infrastructure improvements. Projects such as the Princeton/Via Renzo and Vogell/Mural
(Business Parks) Active Transportation projects, each with over $1 million in funding, highlight a commitment
to active transportation within commercial areas. Additionally, several trail and pathway enhancements such as
Humberview Pond trail address local and regional connectivity priorities.
The estimated operating and maintenance costs to support the existing and planned growth-related expansion
of the City's Active Transportation infrastructure show steady and consistent growth from 2025 to 2034.
These costs are projected to range from over $7 million in 2025 to over $8 million by 2034 (excluding future
inflationary pressures), with incremental increases each year. The City is also anticipating to add some
additional operating activities for this asset group, which it has not experienced in the past (e.g. proactive trail
inspections, large-scale replacement of signage). It is possible that this could impact the operating forecast,
however the City is not yet in a position to quantify these impacts for this AM Plan.
Page 135
Appendix B: Active Transportation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
Proposed Levels of Service for the Active Transportation network have been selected to ensure the long-term
sustainability of service provision for these assets.
At present, most sidewalks, cycling facilities and trails are not past their service lives; and, outdoor crossings
are on average in Very Good condition. The City proposes to maintain these condition-based service levels to
ensure that active transportation routes remain safe for all types of traffic.
Maintaining these levels of service represents a continuation of the same levels of service that the City is
currently providing to the community, which the City has deemed to be achievable.
It is noted that historical funding is low relative to forecasted asset needs, which is indicative of the relatively
good condition of these assets. The forecasting analysis indicates that additional spending (relative to historic)
would be necessary to achieve proposed levels of service to 2051.
The phased-in approach to increasing spending in the forecasts was established to illustrate a methodology
that attempts to gradually increase spending to maximize the potential for affordability while ensuring that risks
and service levels are balanced into the long term.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
The forecasting analysis completed for active transportation assets illustrates that historical spending has
been relatively low when compared to forecasted asset needs. This generally reflects that assets such as trails
have not yet undergone major rehabilitation or replacement cycles, which are anticipated to occur in the future.
Historic data that was used for this analysis illustrated that the assets within this portfolio were generally not
in need of capital interventions in the recent past. This is expected to change as these assets age further and
require rehabilitations and replacements.
Without additional spending, levels of service are anticipated to decline modestly in the near-term, gradually
in the medium-term, and then significantly in the later years of the forecast period. The City should consider a
proactive approach to managing these assets in the near to medium term in order to minimize the long-term
impacts that are identified in this analysis.
The City is aware that these assets will require renewal pressures, and is enacting a number of initiatives to
address them proactively, such as completing proactive trail inspection programs, and more recently beginning
to focus on planning rehabilitations and replacements of areas of its Active Transportation network.
Should spending not be increased for these assets, the condition of these active routes may decline to a
point where some users, for example, cyclists, may be affected differently than other users. Due to the higher
speeds and sensitivity inherent in cycling, rough active transportation route surfaces may affect cyclists more
than users like pedestrians.
Page 136
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix C
Water Distribution
Page 137
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Water Distribution
The City of Richmond Hill provides distribution of a safe and consistent supply of drinking water
through its network of watermains. Other components of the network include water meters,
hydrants, valves, and fleet and equipment assets to support and maintain water infrastructure.
Watermains
Richmond Hill's watermains are an extensive network of underground
linear infrastructure that provide the efficient delivery of water throughout
the City. This network includes approximately 676 kilometres of
watermains. Greater than 80% of the City's watermain network is
constructed of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material. Other materials present
in the network include metallic pipes (ductile iron and cast iron) and
Concrete Pressure Pipes (CPP). The diameters of these pipes vary in
size, from 100 mm to 750 mm, which allows for the versatile distribution of
water to meet different demands across the City. Greater than 95% of the
network consists of pipes with a diameter of 400 mm or less. The City also
has over 12,000 valves, over 4,800 hydrants, approximately 48,000 service
connections, and over 5,500 water chambers.
Water Meters and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
Advanced Metering Infrastructure is a state-of-the-art system that
significantly enhances the accuracy of water usage measurement across
the City. This system includes over 53,000 water meters that are installed
in residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties to track
precise readings of water consumption, which enables both the City
and the consumers to monitor usage effectively. Complementing these
meters are 24 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) collectors that
are strategically positioned throughout the City to facilitate the seamless
transmission of data from the water meters to a central monitoring system.
Fleet and Equipment
The Water Distribution Services fleet and equipment are essential for
ensuring the effective and efficient operation and maintenance of the water
infrastructure in the City. The fleet and equipment are housed at the City's
Operations Centre, where the inspection, maintenance and repair functions
are operated. The fleet is comprised of a variety of specialized vehicles,
including SUVs, trucks, and vans, among others, that each support specific
servicing needs. The equipment includes, for example, hydrant pumps,
sewage flushers and generators. This diverse and well-managed inventory
of fleet and equipment underscores Richmond Hill's preparedness for
various tasks ranging from routine maintenance to emergency response.
Page 138
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$2,821 M
Average Condition
A (Very Good)
Average Age / ESL
26 / 120 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity
Replacement
Value
Watermains
676 km
$2,796.3 M
Valves
12,391 ea.
Hydrants
4,863 ea.
Service Connections
47,966 ea.
Chambers
5,564 ea.
Water Meters/AMI Collectors 53,296 ea.
$21.4 M
Fleet and Equipment
A mix
$3.6 M
Age Profile
0
50
100
150
Watermains
Water Meters and
AMI Collectors
Fleet and Equipment
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
Condition Profile
Very Good
$2,723.3 M
97%
Good
$64.2 M
2%
Fair
$16.6 M
1%
Poor
$8.2 M
0.3%
Very Poor
$9.2 M
0.3%
A
(Very Good)
Avg. Condition
- The condition of watermains is based on a combination of
the number of breaks and asset age relative to remaining
service life. Watermain breaks are recorded in the City's
maintenance management system and paired to the
City's asset inventory data to understand the overall
number of breaks on each watermain segment (and
therefore its condition).
- The condition of ancillary assets (valves, hydrants,
service connections and chambers) is tied to the
condition of the associated watermain. Watermain
replacements drive the asset lifecycle strategies for
ancillary assets; therefore, these assets are grouped
together in the asset management analyses.
- The condition of water meters and Advanced Metering
Infrastructure (AMI) collectors is based on age and
estimated service life.
- The condition of fleet and equipment is based on
utilization (km), age and estimated service life.
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter Grade
Watermains:
Number of Breaks, Material
and Age
Water Meters and AMI
Collectors:
Age/ESL
Fleet and Equipment:
Utilization and Age/ESL
Very Good
A
>0.76 to 1.0
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>0.52 to 0.76
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>0.4 to 0.52
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>0.16 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
0 to 0.16
>100%
0 to 0.2
Page 139
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: Richmond Hill's Water Distribution System provides a safe and
consistent supply of drinking water to the community through rigorous and proactive water
quality monitoring, planning and preventative measures.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in collaboration with the
community, including planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Water Computer Model
- Evaluate water system
capacity
- Identify infrastructure
improvements
- Service existing
conditions and future
growth
- Implementation plan
Page 140
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Connection to the Municipal Water
System
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description, which may include maps, of the user groups or areas of the municipality
that are connected to the municipal water system.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Water Distribution Network
The City of Richmond Hill provides distribution of a safe and consistent supply of drinking water through its
linear network of watermains. York Region treats, stores and distributes water through its vertical water supply
plants to Richmond Hill and the other local municipalities. The City purchases water from York Region and then
distributes it to Richmond Hill residential, commercial, industrial and institutional users through its 676 km long
network of watermains. Approximately 93% of the City's properties are connected to the Water Distribution
system. The 7% of properties not connected are located on open spaces, vacant lands, farmland, conservation
land, and parks. The City meets the legislated stringent Provincial requirements for management practices
and water quality through testing and its Drinking Water Quality Management System. The City's water
distribution network is anticipated to expand over time in response to projected growth and evolving community
needs, through the construction of new and enhanced infrastructure. As the network grows, more properties
will become connected to the system. Note that this does not necessarily indicate that the City has plans to
connect existing properties that are not yet connected; rather, newly constructed properties are expected to be
connected to the system, thus increasing the overall percentage of properties connected.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Percentage of properties
connected to the municipal water
system.
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
93%
Increase in
alignment with
growth planning
Technical Levels of Service
Page 141
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Connection to the Municipal Water
System
Page 142
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Fire Flow Availability
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description, which may include maps, of the user groups or areas of the municipality
that have fire flow.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Water Distribution Network
The City's fire hydrants are key components of the Water Distribution system for providing fire protection
services to the community. At the City, there are approximately 4,800 hydrants that generally have a spacing of
75 metres in non-residential areas and 150 metres in residential areas. As detailed in the Technical Levels of
Service table below, approximately 93% of the City's properties are connected to the Water Distribution system
and have fire flow. The 7% of properties not connected and without available fire flow are open spaces, vacant
lands, conservation land, and parks. These properties still receive fire protection services through alternative
firefighting coverage methods. The City will continue to ensure that fire flow is available to existing and newly
constructed properties to support emergency response requirements.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Percentage of properties where
fire flow is available
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
93%
Increase in
alignment with
growth planning
Technical Levels of Service
Page 143
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Fire Flow Availability
Page 144
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Boil Water Advisories and Service
Disruptions
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of boil water advisories and service interruptions.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Water Distribution Network
A Drinking Water Quality Management System and Operational Plan are in place in Richmond Hill to ensure
that water quality and safety standards are regularly met and that the City provides the community with safe
drinking water. York Region also implements a rigorous water quality sampling program to ensure water is safe
to drink and works to identify and correct any situation that poses a threat to the community's drinking water.
A Boil Water Advisory or Drinking Water Advisory can be issued if a serious enough contamination is found.
However, through the City's regular water testing and annual regulatory reporting of its drinking water system,
there were no boil water or drinking water advisories issued.
Service disruptions are typically caused when water is shut down to repair a watermain break. The duration
and number of customers affected by these service disruptions are tracked by the City. Watermain breaks
are repaired to continue the provision of reliable service to the community. The City will continue to take all
necessary measures to mitigate any disruptions that may impact the quality and availability of drinking water,
ensuring a reliable and safe water supply for the community.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Reliability
The number of connection-
days per year where a boil
water advisory notice is in place
compared to the total number
of properties connected to the
municipal water system
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
0 per 51,550
properties
Maintain at 0
(where under the
City's purview)
Reliability
The number of connection-days
per year due to water main
breaks compared to the total
number of properties connected
to the municipal water system
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
121 connection-
days per 51,550
properties
Decrease
(Improve)
Technical Levels of Service
Page 145
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Watermain Condition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of the watermain network is measured and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Watermains
The City maintains a detailed database and maintenance management system that records watermain breaks.
Breaks are logged with work order data every time new breaks occur and are repaired. The City records
important data related to each break, such as duration and number of customers affected, pipe material
and repair performed. Once a given pipe segment has experienced an established number of breaks, it is
considered for capital intervention, such as replacement or rehabilitation. The City also utilizes its condition
data to report on a Watermain Condition Index (WCI), which is a 100-point rating scale used to communicate
watermain condition.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Average watermain condition
index (WCI)
City-Defined
98 (Very Good)
Maintain
(Good or better
Condition)
Reliability
Percentage of watermain assets
in Fair or better condition
City-Defined
99%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Annual number of watermain
breaks per 100 km
City-Defined
4.9
Decrease
(Improve)
Reliability
Annual number of watermain
breaks
City-Defined
33
Decrease
(Improve)
Technical Levels of Service
Page 146
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City encourages the conservation of water and energy through policies, procedures and
public outreach (e.g. promoting leak detection education)
- The City's Drinking Water Quality Management System Operational Plan.
- Continuous improvements in utilizing IT systems for tracking and maintenance (e.g. Maximo)
- The City's approved Design and Construction Guidelines.
- Regular water sampling, testing and monitoring conducted.
Maintenance
- The City completes ongoing scheduled maintenance, repair and emergency activities of
watermains and the associated ancillary assets. These are tracked through Maximo.
- The City performs testing, maintenance and repairs of water meters and AMI collector units to
ensure proper functioning and accuracy.
- Fleet and equipment are inspected and maintained per recommended standards.
Rehabilitation
- The City currently plans for replacement of watermain assets, instead of relining.
- Water meters and AMI collector units are not rehabilitated but instead replaced when they have
reached the end of their service life and/or are not functioning. Sometimes the remote reader on
the top of the water meter may be replaced.
- Fleet and equipment assets are generally not rehabilitated but are more likely to be replaced at
end of their service life and/or based on their condition.
Replacement
- Watermain assets are typically identified for replacement based on their condition and break
history. Watermains are typically replaced when they are bundled with the associated road
reconstructions and/or sewer replacements to minimize service disruptions and costs.
- Water meters and AMI Collector units are replaced when they have reached the end of their
service life and/or are not functioning.
- Fleet and equipment assets are replaced when they have reached the end of their service life
and/or their condition is Poor or Very Poor, or they are no longer functioning as required.
Disposal
- Watermains are either removed during renewal construction or are disconnected and
abandoned in place depending on the construction circumstances. Abandoned mains are
capped and/or grouted to protect other infrastructure.
- Fleet and equipment are generally disposed when the new replacement arrives.
- Water meters and AMI collector units are generally disposed by the vendor when replaced.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- The City's approved Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan (UMESP) set guidelines for
water infrastructure needed to support the City's growth areas, including intensification. Building
on this, the City's Water Computer Model is updated as development conditions change and
will be used to undertake the City's Water Master Plan in 2025 to identify upgrades and/or
expansions required for future growth.
- The City completed a Water Computer Model that identifies areas in the Water Distribution
system where there are pressure demands and any potential issues due to growth and usage.
- The City's Development Charges Background Study provides recommendations to upgrade
and/or expand the Water Distribution System.
- New and/or larger assets are also identified through technical analysis as part of servicing plans
completed to service new developments and growth.
- Assets are identified for replacement to meet current standards and/or implement operational
improvements, e.g. installation of technologies and equipment that improves water efficiency.
Page 147
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Watermains Lifecycle
Replacement - Ductile Iron
Replacement - PVC, CPP
Replacement - Cast Iron
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
Generally, metallic pipes have an 80 to 90 year service life while PVC and concrete pipes have an approximate 120-
year service life. The City's lifecycle model utilizes the number of breaks and material type (i.e. service life) to forecast
deterioration of watermains over time and when replacement should be identified. To reduce service disruption and
minimize costs, watermains are generally replaced at the same time as road reconstructions through the bundling of
linear assets into capital projects. This may alter the timing of when watermains are replaced. Per the City's design
standards, metallic pipes are replaced with either PVC or concrete (CPP). Appurtenances such as valves, chambers, and
connections are typically replaced at the same time as the watermain.
Water Meters and AMI Collectors Lifecycle
Replacement -
Water Meter
Replacement -
AMI Collector
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
The City's lifecycle strategies for water meters and AMI collectors includes replacing them at the end of their service life
or when their condition has reached Poor or Very Poor. Generally, water meters are forecasted to have a 20-year service
life while AMI collector units have a 10-year service life. Water meters and AMI collector units receive testing and ongoing
maintenance and repairs as necessary to ensure these assets reach the end of their service life. Typically, multiple water
meters and/or AMI collector units would be bundled into capital projects to realize economies of scale and minimize cost.
Page 148
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Watermains
- Valves
- Hydrants
- Chambers
- Service Connections
- Water Meters/AMI
Collectors
- Fleet/Equipment
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current
capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified
in budget, plan
or study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Traffic counts
- Road
classification
- Land use
- Asset size,
type, function
and material
- Environmental
compliance and
asset type
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$2,706 M
$85 M
$30 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$400 M
$800 M
$1,200 M
$1,600 M
$2,000 M
$2,400 M
$2,800 M
$3,200 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
Climate Change Considerations
- Installation of equipment that improves water efficiency, e.g. completed replacement of pool filtration system at
Bayview Hill Community Centre leading to reduced water consumption and operational costs.
- Partnered with York Region to include an educational insert alongside water bills, promoting early leak detection to
save residents water and money.
- Completed the development of a City-wide Water Computer Model.
- Successfully completed the Bathurst Street and Major Mackenzie watermain replacement projects using
trenchless horizontal directional drilling to minimize environmental impacts.
- The City encouraged local businesses to improve energy and water efficiency by promoting participation in the
ClimateWise Business Network's Energy and Water Benchmarking Reporting program.
Page 149
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
Backlog
$88.2 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Water
88.2
13.3
+0.5 to 0.7
159.6
16.0
568.7
21.1
Wastewater
Page 150
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Impact on Levels of Service
Asset Investment Strategy
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Water Distribution (All)
Page 151
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Impact on Levels of Service
Asset Investment Strategy
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
80
82
84
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Watermain Condition Index (WCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Watermain Condition Index (WCI) over time
Watermains
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 152
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's approved Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan (UMESP) and now the City's Water Computer
Model set guidelines for water infrastructure that are needed to support development in the City's growth
areas, including intensification to the year 2051. The City's Water Computer Model identified a number of water
improvement projects that will help ensure Richmond Hill can continue to accommodate growth. The City-wide
Water Computer Model also identifies areas in the Water Distribution system where there are pressure and/
or flow demands and any potential issues under different demand situations. It recommends additional water
improvements needed to manage the flow demands of the community. These major studies, along with the
renewal needs for existing infrastructure identified through this 2025 Asset Management Plan will inform future
infrastructure investments through the City's 10 Year Capital Budget and Forecast.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
$14 M
$16 M
$18 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Richmond Hill's Water Distribution system is subject to development pressures of which the required works
have been identified within the Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan and the City's Water Computer
Model. Further refinements to the growth-related projects are expected to occur as a result of the Water Master
Plan. The 10-Year Capital Budget includes $30.7 million in growth-related projects. Key collaborations with
York Region include the Bathurst Street Reconstruction ($6.7 million), Elgin Mills Road West Reconstruction
($4.3 million), and Yonge Street Watermain Improvement ($1.1 million), ensuring vital infrastructure
enhancements. City-wide water improvements, with $7.6 million allocated across various locations, and new
water meter installations totaling $5.4 million, further support the system's expansion. These initiatives aim
to deliver a reliable, high-quality water supply to meet the needs of the growing community while enhancing
service efficiency.
Operating forecasts for Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection were developed as part of the City's
2024 Water and Wastewater Financial Plan. Per the Financial Plan, Richmond Hill's Water and Wastewater
services are estimated to experience steady increases in operating and maintenance costs over the next 10
years for both existing and new growth assets if they are constructed as identified in the City's 10-Year Capital
Budget and Forecast. These forecasted operating costs are projected to grow from approximately $14 million
in 2025 to over $16 million by 2034 (excluding future inflationary pressures), reflecting incremental increases
annually.
Page 153
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Identifying Additional Needs
The Water and Wastewater financial forecasts presented in this Appendix represent the needs associated
with achieving the proposed condition-based levels of service for these assets. The analysis to forecast these
needs was completed by the City's EAM system and the outputs from this analysis are provided to the City's
subject matter experts annually, to assist them in developing the Capital Plan and Forecast each year. The
City's subject matter experts then balance the EAM's recommendations on asset condition-based needs with
additional projects related to additional needs, including the bundling of assets within the municipal right of way
and other performance-related needs.
The replacement of watermains tends to be both expensive and disruptive to the community due to the amount
of work associated with excavating the right of way to replace these assets. As a result, the City typically plans
watermain work to coincide with works to the associated road and other nearby underground linear assets
(such as sanitary/storm sewers), which is referred to as corridor bundling. This minimizes disruption to the
community. When the City develops its capital plan and forecast, it includes bundled corridor projects, which
may include watermain assets that are not identified in the initial EAM analysis.
In addition, the City has more recently incorporated a performance-based approach to understanding its water
distribution assets. It uses the results of its water models to identify these performance-based needs including
issues where pressure is low or additional capacity is needed. These needs can also be reflected in the City's
Capital Budget and Forecast. In 2024, the City completed a water and wastewater rate study, which was
informed by its condition, performance and corridor bundling needs identified through the capital planning and
forecast process.
To supplement the condition-based forecasts provided in this Appendix, the City has also included needs
identified as part of the Water and Wastewater Financial Plan below. These represent the additional needs
identified as part of that study, which include project bundling activities as well as performance-based needs.
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Water and Wastewater Financial Plan Needs
EAM Suggested Needs (Proposed LOS)
EAM Suggested Needs (Proposed LOS) vs. Water and Wastewater Financial Plan Needs
Page 154
Appendix C: Water Distribution | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Future Outlook
Findings and Insights
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
The City has selected proposed levels of service and performance targets that align with its objectives to
ensure long-term sustainability and minimize risk to the community. Currently, watermain condition-based
levels of service are high, and are expected to be so over the next 10 and 27 years. This ensures that risks
remain low moving forward, from a condition perspective.
The levels of service presented in this AM Plan are focused on the condition-based service level measures that
have been developed by the City. In addition, the City has identified other needs, including those associated
with project bundling, as well as performance-based needs. These additional needs have been incorporated
into its annual Capital Plans and Forecasts, described previously in this Appendix.
The City has put forward an achievable and affordable plan to address its Water Distribution network-related
needs over the next 10 years as part of its 2024 Water and Wastewater Financial Plan. This includes needs
associated with achieving its condition-based levels of service, as well as other considerations, such as project
bundling and performance-based needs. That study recommended user rate increases that were in line with
the City's forecasted needs, ensuring that the City is able to fund its needs over the next 10 years.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
The forecasting analysis completed herein identifies spending needs associated with achieving the City's
condition-based proposed levels of service. Furthermore, additional needs identified through the City's 2024
Water and Wastewater Financial Plan represent other needs identified by the City's subject matter experts.
Given the results of the forecasting analysis, it is expected that condition-based levels of service will remain
high into the future. Furthermore, performance and project bundling issues can also be addressed through the
City's Capital Plan and Forecast, ensuring that water distribution services can be provided to the community
to meet their needs. Furthermore, the City continues to further enhance its performance-based analysis of the
Water Distribution network, which will result in a better understanding of performance-based needs that will be
reflected in future asset management analyses and future AM Plans.
Page 155
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix D
Wastewater Collection
Page 156
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Wastewater Collection
The City of Richmond Hill is responsible for providing reliable and efficient collection of
wastewater through a network of sewers and sewage pumping stations. Other ancillary assets
like maintenance holes and service connections support the system.
Sanitary Sewers
Richmond Hill's Wastewater Collection system includes a complex network
of underground sanitary sewers that efficiently transport wastewater from
residential, commercial, and industrial areas to York Region's vertical
treatment facilities. The City's underground network of these wastewater
linear pipes spans approximately 619 kilometres. Approximately 74%
of these pipes are constructed of PVC and approximately 15% are
constructed of concrete. Other material types include vitrified clay and
metallic pipes. The diameters of these pipes vary in size, ranging from 150
to 1,350 mm, and are each selected based on their ability to accommodate
different wastewater flow rates and volume demands across the City.
Integral to this network are the over 9,700 maintenance holes and
over 47,500 service connections. Note that the City does not have any
combined sewers. As a result, certain legislated community and technical
levels of service related to combined sewers are not applicable to the City
and are not reported herein. Furthermore, since wastewater is treated
by the Region, additional legislated levels of service related to treatment
plants are also not applicable and not reported herein.
Pumping Stations
Wastewater primarily flows through the City's wastewater collection
network using gravity; however, in some cases, a pumping station is
required to pump wastewater from lower elevations to higher ones. These
facilities are generally comprised of a building, internal process equipment,
and a forcemain, which is a wastewater sewer pipe that is constructed
to withstand pressure flow from the pump station. The City owns and
manages six pumping station facilities: Bayview South, Humber Flats,
Invar, Joyce's Point, Mission Hill and Sunset Beach. Complementing these
pumping station facilities are the forcemains, with a combined length of
4,400 metres supporting the transportation of wastewater under pressure
from the pumping stations to the subsequent stages of the collection/
treatment process. The process equipment within pumping stations
includes pumps, valves, generators, heaters, safety grates and other
components.
Invar Pumping Station
Page 157
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$3,009 M
Average Condition
A (Very Good)
Average Age / ESL
31 / 74 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity
Replacement
Value
Sanitary Sewers
619 km
$2,982.0 M
Maintenance Holes
9,716 ea.
Service Connections
47,549 ea.
Pumping Stations
6 ea.
$26.9 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Sanitary Sewers
Pumping Stations
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
Condition Profile
Very Good
$2,612.1 M
87%
Good
$170.3 M
6%
Fair
$178.0 M
6%
Poor
$32.1 M
1%
Very Poor
$16.3 M
0.5%
A
(Very Good)
Avg. Condition
- The condition of sanitary sewers is based on structural
defects that are identified through closed circuit television
(CCTV) inspections. Using a standardized methodology,
these defects are converted into a PACP rating, which
describes the pipe's condition. The City maintains a
five-year inspection cycle and to date, approximately
76% of the network has received a CCTV inspection and
a PACP condition score. The City uses the asset's age
and estimated service life as a proxy for condition for the
remaining 24% of the network.
- The condition for the ancillary assets (maintenance
holes, service connections) is tied to the condition of the
sanitary sewer.
- For pumping station buildings, their condition is based on
Building Condition Assessments completed in 2022/2023.
The BCA results are converted into a Corporate Asset
Management condition rating. The City completes BCA
for all City-owned facilities over a three-year cycle.
- For pumping station equipment, condition is based on
condition assessments and age/estimated service life.
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter Grade
Sanitary Sewers:
PACP Score
Pumping Station Facilities:
Building Condition
Assessments
Pumping Station
Equipment:
Condition Assessments
and Age/ESL
Very Good
A
0 or 1
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
2
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
3
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
4
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
5
>0 to 0.2
>0 to 0.2
Page 158
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: The City of Richmond Hill provides a reliable and efficient
Wastewater Collection system that reduces environmental and health risks.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in collaboration with the
community, including planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Wastewater Computer Model
- Evaluate wastewater
capacity
- Identify infrastructure
improvements
- Service existing
conditions and future
growth
- Implementation plan
Page 159
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Connection to the Municipal
Wastewater Collection System
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description, which may include maps, of the user groups or areas of the municipality
that are connected to the municipal wastewater system.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Wastewater Collection Network
The City of Richmond Hill provides reliable and efficient collection of wastewater from properties through
a network of linear sewer mains and six vertical sewerage pumping stations that are owned and managed
by the City. As detailed in the technical levels of service, approximately 93% of the City's properties are
connected to the Wastewater Collection system. The properties not connected are open spaces, vacant
lands, farmland, conservation land, and parks. These sewage flows from the City's network stream into
larger wastewater trunk pipes, owned and operated by York Region, and ultimately to a vertical wastewater
treatment plant jointly owned and operated by York Region and Durham Region. The City's wastewater
collection system is anticipated to expand over time in response to projected growth and evolving community
needs, through the construction of new and enhanced infrastructure. As the network grows, more properties
will become connected to the system. Note that this does not necessarily indicate that the City has plans to
connect existing properties that are not yet connected; rather, newly constructed properties are expected to be
connected to the system, thus increasing the overall percentage of properties connected.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Percentage of properties
connected to the municipal
wastewater system.
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
93%
Increase in
alignment with
growth planning
Page 160
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Connection to the Municipal
Wastewater Collection System
Page 161
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Inflow & Infiltration and Wastewater
System Resilience
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how stormwater can get into sanitary sewers in the municipal
wastewater system, causing sewage to overflow into streets or backup into homes.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Wastewater Collection Network
Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) is the terminology used to describe the seepage of water into the sanitary sewer
system. This seepage can consume current sewer capacity needed for existing functioning of the system
along with capacity to accommodate future growth. It also increases treatment costs and reduces treatment
efficiency. It could also lead to sewage overflows damaging the environment and sensitive ecosystems; could
cause basement flooding; and, could ultimately increase the overall costs of wastewater infrastructure. During
a rainfall event, the infiltration can be caused when the shallow groundwater level exceeds the elevation of
the collection system pipes. At this point, the groundwater can enter the collection system through various
points of entry. The inflow and infiltration of rainwater entering the sewer system can typically occur from a
number of sources, including faulty roof drains; compromised foundation drains; uncapped cleanouts; leaky
maintenance hole covers; defective connections; cracks in the sanitary sewer pipes; and, punctures induced
by nearby vegetation (root intrusion). The volume of rainfall that converts into groundwater relies on various
factors, including the moisture levels on the surface, soil type, ground slope, and the intensity and duration
of the rainfall occurrence. Given these impacts, York Region and the local municipalities including the City of
Richmond Hill have a robust approach in place to minimize I&I. The City does not own any combined sewers.
Service Attribute: Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how sanitary sewers in the municipal wastewater system are designed
to be resilient to avoid events related to stormwater inflow and infiltration.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Wastewater Collection Network
An updated 2021 Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Reduction Strategy was developed by York Region with input from
local municipalities including the City of Richmond Hill. This 2021 updated approach strengthens and prolongs
the Region's and City of Richmond Hill's dedication to reducing I&I issues, continuing to meet regulatory
obligations, and supporting sustainable growth over the next five to ten years.
Page 162
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Inflow & Infiltration and Wastewater
System Resilience
As one of the local municipalities in York Region, the City of Richmond Hill's contribution and role includes:
- Consideration of the Region's I&I Reduction Design, Construction, Inspection and Testing Standard for
Sewers Servicing New Developments in conjunction with the City's standards and specifications;
- Reduction of I&I in the City's local sanitary system and ensuring alignment with plans and initiatives;
- Conducting flow monitoring, camera inspections and rehabilitation studies of City-owned wastewater
assets to identify and address sources of I&I;
- Maintaining the City's wastewater system in a good state of repair to minimize I&I;
- Communication and outreach to residents to address private sources of I&I;
- Participating in I&I reduction meetings and workshops liaised through the Region; and
- Ensuring that funding and resources are available to meet local reduction targets and program needs
(e.g. the City's Backwater Valve Subsidy Program).
Also, the updated strategy developed a methodology and framework that recommended I&I reduction targets
through utilizing sanitary sewer flow and rainfall monitoring data obtained from various locations across the
Region. These set targets assist local municipalities in effectively determining the requirements for future I&I
reduction programs. It also provides a solid justification for new projects and initiatives. Moreover, these targets
allow each of the local municipalities the freedom to devise and implement successful programs that best align
with the specific needs of their respective systems.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Reliability
The number of connection-days
per year due to wastewater
backups compared to the total
number of properties connected
to the municipal wastewater
system.
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
0 per 51,550
properties
Maintain at 0
Reliability
The number of effluent violations
per year due to wastewater
discharge compared to the total
number of properties connected
to the municipal wastewater
system.*
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
N/A
N/A
*The City does not own or operate wastewater treatment facilities. Wastewater treatment is provided by York and Durham Regions.
Page 163
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Wastewater Collection System
Condition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of the Wastewater Collection system is measured and
reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Sanitary Sewers, Pumping Stations
The condition of sanitary sewers is based on Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) ratings.
These ratings are obtained from Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) inspections of the City's sewer network, and
are calculated based on structural defects observed in the sewers. A PACP score ranges from 0 (Very Good)
to 5 (Very Poor). The City maintains a 5-year inspection cycle for all sewers. To date, approximately 76% of the
sewer network has received a CCTV inspection. The condition of assets within pumping stations is identified
through a condition assessment program (for buildings) or through an age-based analysis (for process
equipment). The assets' condition or age/ESL is evaluated and allocated to a 5-point condition category scale
for reporting within this AM Plan. Interventions are planned when assets have reached or exceeded their
estimated service life; or, are identified by the condition assessments.
Very Good
(PACP Score =
0 or 1)
Good
(PACP Score = 2)
Fair
(PACP Score = 3)
Poor
(PACP Score = 4)
Very Poor
(PACP Score = 5)
Page 164
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Wastewater Collection System
Condition
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Reliability
Percentage of sanitary sewers in
Fair or better condition
City-Defined
98%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of pumping station
assets within service life
City-Defined
96%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Number of mainline blockages
resulting in backup per km
City-Defined
0
Maintain at 0
Reliability
Percentage of sewers inspected
City-Defined
76%
Increase
Quality
Average Sanitary Sewer
Condition Index (SSCI)
City-Defined
93 (Very Good)
Maintain
(Good or better
condition)
Page 165
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City performs studies and has policies such as Inflow and Infiltration Reduction.
- The City continues with SCADA to monitor the efficiency and capacity of pumping stations.
- Education programs for residents on the Sewer Use By-law and discouraging the disposal of
certain items down the drain can prevent backups and extend the life of the City's sewers.
- The City's approved Design and Construction Guidelines.
Maintenance
- The City completes ongoing scheduled maintenance, repair and emergency activities of sewers
and the associated ancillary assets.
- Flushing and CCTV inspections of sewers are completed proactively across the entire system
on a 5-year cycle with some targeted areas being inspected more frequently as required.
- The City performs testing, maintenance and repairs of pumping station equipment.
Rehabilitation
- Proposed sanitary sewer candidates for renewal may be relined, if deemed feasible.
- Pumping station equipment and building structures may be rehabilitated based on their
condition through Building Condition Assessments, outputs from the VFA software program and
EAM recommendations.
Replacement
- Sanitary sewer candidates in Poor or Very Poor condition identified through CCTV inspections
and PACP scores would be replaced as part of the bundling of associated linear water and/or
road reconstruction capital projects.
- Pumping Station equipment is typically replaced when its condition is Poor or Very Poor, has
reached the end of its service life or is not functioning as intended.
- The replacement of the various building components of the City's pumping stations are
determined through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program, and completed as required.
Disposal
- Sewers are either removed during renewal or are disconnected and abandoned in place
depending on the construction circumstances. Abandoned sewers are capped and/or grouted.
- Pumping station equipment is generally disposed when the new replacement arrives.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- New and/or larger wastewater assets are identified through technical analysis as part of
servicing plans to service new developments and growth.
- The City's approved Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan (UMESP) set guidelines for
water infrastructure needed to support the City's growth areas, including intensification. Building
on this, the City's Wastewater Computer Model is updated as development conditions change
and will be used to undertake the City's Wastewater Master Plan in 2025 to identify upgrades
and/or expansions required for future growth.
- The City completed a Wastewater Computer Model that assessed the Wastewater Collection
system's ability to meet capacity requirements.
- The City's Development Charges Background Study provides recommendations to upgrade
and/or expand the Wastewater Collection system based on growth.
- Pipes that do not meet capacity requirements are upsized to increase capacity and can be
aligned with road reconstructions to minimize costs and impacts to residents.
- Assets are identified for replacement to meet current standards and/or implement operational
improvements (e.g. reduce inflow and infiltration, flooding)
Page 166
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Sanitary Sewers Lifecycle
Replacement - Concrete and
metallic
Replacement/Relining -
PVC and other plastic
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
Generally, sanitary sewer pipes have a 70 to 80 year service life. The City's lifecycle model leverages the CCTV
inspections and PACP scores of structural defects, along with the age and estimated service life based on its material
type, to forecast when potential replacement should be identified. Sewer replacements are typically completed when it can
be bundled with other projects to reduce construction costs and minimize impacts to residents. These considerations alter
the timing of when sewers are replaced. Maintenance holes and connections are typically replaced at the same time as
the sewer. Proposed sanitary sewer candidates for renewal may be relined, if deemed feasible.
Pumping Station Equipment Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
There is a variety of equipment within the City's pumping stations which generally have a service life of up to 20 years.
Wells last up to 50 years. The City performs testing, maintenance and repairs of pumping station equipment as required.
The City's lifecycle model forecasts that assets be replaced when they reach the end of their service life; when their
condition has reached Poor or Very Poor; or, when they are no longer functioning as required. These assets may be
replaced sooner based on usage and/or premature wear and tear or may be kept in service longer for operational
business continuity needs.
Page 167
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Sanitary Sewers
- Maintenance Holes
- Service
Connections
- Pumping Stations/
Equipment
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified in
budget, plan or
study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Land use
- Asset type,
size and
function
- Environmental
compliance and
asset type
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$2,364 M
$386 M
$256 M
$3 M
$0 M
$0 M
$400 M
$800 M
$1,200 M
$1,600 M
$2,000 M
$2,400 M
$2,800 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
Climate Change Considerations
- Monitoring and enforcement of the Sewer Use By-law and performing inspections to address blockages through
the sanitary effluent sampling program to reduce potential spills.
- The City's Inflow and Infiltration Program protects the built and natural areas from spills.
- Regular and ongoing CCTV inspections of sanitary sewers
- Backwater Valve Subsidy Program
- Completed the development of a City-wide Wastewater Computer Model
Page 168
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
Backlog
$88.2 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Water
88.2
13.3
+0.5 to 0.7
159.6
16.0
568.7
21.1
Wastewater
Page 169
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Wastewater Collection (All)
Page 170
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Sanitary Sewers
Sanitary Sewer Condition Index (SSCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Sanitary Sewer Condition Index (SSCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.5 to $0.7 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 171
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Sanitary Pumping Stations
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 172
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's approved Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan (UMESP) and now the City's Wastewater
Computer Model sets guidelines for wastewater infrastructure that are needed to support development
in the City's growth areas, including intensification to the year 2051. The City's Wastewater Computer
Model identified a number of wastewater improvement projects that will help ensure Richmond Hill can
continue to accommodate growth. The City-wide Wastewater Computer Model also identifies areas in the
Wastewater Collection system where there are Inflow and Infiltration issues under different rainfall situations.
It recommends additional wastewater improvements needed to manage the demands of the community.
These major studies, along with the renewal needs for existing infrastructure identified through this 2025 Asset
Management Plan, will inform future infrastructure investments through the City's 10 Year Capital Budget and
Forecast.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Richmond Hill's Wastewater Collection service is slated for significant upgrades over the next 10 years, guided
by the Urban Master Environmental Servicing Plan and Wastewater Computer Model results. The City's 10-
Year Capital Budget includes $17.8 million in projects, with $6.3 million allocated for sanitary improvements
across various locations. Notable initiatives include the Sanitary Improvement Project along Addison Street
to Weldrick Road ($1.4 million) and the Denava Gate improvements ($0.3 million). Key projects also include
contributions toward sanitary improvements at Garden Avenue and High Tech Road, on Yonge Street,
each with an investment of $1.1 million, and improvements from Yonge Street to Harding Boulevard ($3.5
million). These projects reflect a targeted approach to enhancing the efficiency and reliability of wastewater
infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing community.
Operating forecasts for Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection were developed as part of the City's
2024 Water and Wastewater Financial Plan. Per the Financial Plan, Richmond Hill's Water and Wastewater
services are estimated to experience steady increases in operating and maintenance costs over the next 10
years for both existing and new growth assets if they are constructed as identified in the City's 10-Year Capital
Budget and Forecast. These forecasted operating costs are projected to grow from approximately $14 million
in 2025 to over $16 million by 2034 (excluding future inflationary pressures), reflecting incremental increases
annually.
Page 173
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Identifying Additional Needs
The Water and Wastewater financial forecasts presented in this Appendix represent the needs associated
with achieving the proposed condition-based levels of service for these assets. The analysis to forecast these
needs was completed by the City's EAM system, and the outputs from this analysis are provided to the City's
subject matter experts annually, to assist them in developing the Capital Plan and Forecast each year. The
City's subject matter experts then balance the EAM's recommendations on asset condition-based needs with
additional projects related to additional needs, including the bundling of assets within the municipal right of way
and other performance related needs.
Since sanitary sewers are an underground asset located in the municipal right of way, much like watermains,
they can be both expensive and disruptive to the community to replace. The City takes a similar approach to
all underground assets within the right of way, which is to look for opportunities to bundle works together to
leverage efficiencies and minimize disruption to the community. As a result, the City's capital plan and forecast
will include wastewater projects that are identified as part of bundling exercises, that may not be identified in
the initial EAM analysis.
In addition, the City has more recently incorporated a performance-based approach to understanding its
wastewater collection assets. It uses the results of its wastewater models to identify these performance-based
needs, which are included in the City's Capital Budget and Forecast. In 2024, the City completed a water and
wastewater rate study, which was informed by its condition, performance and bundling needs identified through
the capital planning and forecast process.
To supplement the condition-based forecasts provided in this Appendix, the City has also included needs
identified as part of the Water and Wastewater Financial Plan below. These represent the additional needs
identified as part of that study, which include project bundling activities as well as performance-based needs.
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Water and Wastewater Financial Plan Needs
EAM Suggested Needs (Proposed LOS)
EAM Suggested Needs (Proposed LOS) vs. Water and Wastewater Financial Plan Needs
Page 174
Appendix D: Wastewater Collection | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
The City has selected proposed levels of service and performance targets that align with its objectives to
ensure long-term sustainability and minimize risk to the community. The levels of service presented in this
AM Plan are focused on the condition-based service level measures that have been developed by the City.
In addition, the City has identified other needs, including those associated with project bundling, as well as
performance-based needs. These additional needs have been incorporated into its annual Capital Plans and
Forecasts, described previously in this Appendix.
For wastewater assets, including sanitary sewers and pumping stations, asset condition is generally high
(most assets are in Good and Very Good condition), and assets are relatively young. The financial analysis
completed for wastewater assets was combined with water distribution assets. The forecasts have identified
that if current spending trends continue, the City will continue to provide these high condition-based levels
of service over the next 10 years, and will require a modest average increase to achieve proposed levels
of service over a 27-year horizon. This ensures that risks remain low moving forward, from a condition
perspective.
The City has put forward an achievable and affordable plan to address its sanitary sewer network-related
needs over the next 10 years as part of its 2024 Water and Wastewater Financial Plan. This includes needs
associated with achieving its condition-based levels of service, as well as other considerations, such as project
bundling and performance-based needs. That study recommended user rate increases that were in line with
the City's forecasted needs, ensuring that the City is able to fund its needs over the next 10 years.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
The forecasting analysis completed herein identifies spending needs associated with achieving the City's
condition-based proposed levels of service. Furthermore, additional needs identified through the City's 2024
Water and Wastewater Financial Plan represent other needs identified by the City's subject matter experts.
As noted previously, the City has more recently begun to incorporate a performance-based approach to
understanding its wastewater collection assets into its capital planning and capital forecasting exercises.
As part of this approach, the City has been working with York Region and other municipalities within the Region
to better identify and quantify the impact that inflow and infiltration has had on the Wastewater Collection
system. Together, the collection of municipalities has identified that the amount of inflow and infiltration (I&I) in
their collective wastewater networks is much larger than was originally anticipated, and that the system was
originally designed to accommodate. In addition to this, other issues, such as climate change, threaten to test
the system's resilience with longer duration and larger intensity rainfall events. The City has acknowledged that
these I&I issues are a significant risk and is currently working towards identifying and quantifying those issues
better. Recent efforts include improving the City's wastewater models, and working towards identifying areas of
risk and concern with regards to system capacity and high levels of I&I. This could manifest in a shift in focus,
whereby changing priorities could affect the City's investment and asset renewal strategies moving forward.
Examples of areas of focus may include upsizing sewers and targeting areas of high I&I for repair.
At this time, the City is not in a position to quantify the effects of these issues in full. In the coming years,
the City will have a better understanding of the needs associated with asset performance for the wastewater
system, through such initiatives as the development of a City-wide Water and Wastewater Master Plan that is
currently in progress, and those needs will be reflected in future asset management analyses and future AM
Plans.
Page 175
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix E
Stormwater Management
Rumble Pond
Page 176
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Stormwater Management
The City of Richmond Hill owns and operates Stormwater Management infrastructure including
storm sewers, stormwater management ponds, Low Impact Development (LID) assets, and
storm culverts. There are also a number of supporting assets to assist in the maintenance of
stormwater management assets.
Storm Sewers
Richmond Hill's storm sewers provide effective stormwater management
and environmental protection for the community. Spanning approximately
623 kilometres, greater than 75% of the City's storm sewers are
constructed of concrete. Following that, approximately 17% are comprised
of PVC and the remainder are comprised of various other materials. These
materials offer specific advantages such as flexibility and adaptability to
various ground conditions, and in the case of PVC, provide lightweight,
cost-effective, and corrosion-resistant properties that have a long
service life. The City's storm sewer network also includes over 18,000
catch basins, over 10,000 maintenance holes and over 47,000 service
connections.
Above Ground Conveyance (Storm Culverts)
Richmond Hill's above ground conveyance system is a crucial component
of the City's stormwater management infrastructure. The City owns and
manages over 1,100 storm culverts that are strategically designed and
distributed across the municipality's roads to ensure effective water
conveyance and reduce the risk of flooding. The majority of these culverts
(greater than 95%) are cylindrical. Greater than 95% of these assets
are constructed of corrugated steel pipe (CSP). Other materials include
concrete and PVC. The culverts are sized by design to effectively manage
varying volumes of stormwater.
Stormwater Management Facilities (SWMF)
The City's stormwater management facilities (SWMF) include over 100
ponds, whose function is to protect the community and local water bodies
through the effective management of stormwater runoff. The City's SWMF
generally can have one or two primary functions. The first is to store and
manage excess water in the storm network to protect against flooding,
which occurs within all the City's stormwater management facilities. The
second, is to improve the quality of stormwater runoff, by providing a
system to remove debris and sediment. The City classifies its ponds as dry
ponds and wet ponds. Dry ponds do not store water between storm events
while wet ponds maintain a permanent pool which facilitates sediment
deposition. The City utilizes all types of ponds to effectively manage
stormwater while protecting the ecological integrity of local water bodies.
Pioneer Park SWMF
Page 177
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Stormwater Management
Low Impact Development (LID)
Richmond Hill's low impact development (LID) assets are part of the City's
progressive approach to sustainable urban development and environmental
management. The term "Low Impact Development" describes a type of
asset that mimics natural rainwater processes to promote the infiltration
of stormwater into the ground instead of onto the urban environment and
ultimately into the stormwater collection system. LIDs may have a "green"
or biological component to them to assist in this function. The City's diverse
array of LID assets includes a collection of exfiltration and infiltration
facilities, bioretention areas, green roofs, permeable pavements, and a
rainwater cistern. The exfiltration and infiltration facilities help recharge
groundwater and reduce stormwater runoff. Bioretention areas are
designed to utilize filtration to treat stormwater runoff. Permeable pavement
helps reduce water runoff and assists with recharging the groundwater.
Fleet and Equipment
Stormwater management fleet and equipment are specialized assets
that are used for the effective monitoring and management of the City's
stormwater systems to ensure they function as intended and remain in
compliance with provincial requirements. This category includes boats,
sensors, rain gauges and multiparameter displays. Assets like the City's
boats enable City personnel to conduct thorough assessments and perform
necessary interventions in and around the City's ponds. Level logger
sensors record water levels in various parts of the stormwater system to
provide data for flood risk assessment and water management strategies.
Rain gauges provide accurate measurements of rainfall for understanding
and predicting potential impacts on the City's infrastructure.
Green Roof at Oak Ridges CC
East Humber River
Manufactured Treatment Devices (MTD)
Richmond Hill's manufactured treatment devices (MTD) assets, which total
over 100, provide end of pipe water quality controls and are part of the
City's overall stormwater management system. MTDs are located within
the City's storm sewer system. These systems can be one of two types:
oil grit separators (OGS) or filters. OGS units are structures consisting of
one or more chambers that remove sediment, screen debris and separate
oil from stormwater. MTD filters are structures consisting of one or more
chambers with filtration, media, membranes and/or filtration cartridges that
remove solids and debris/trash from runoff.
Page 178
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$3,270 M
Average Condition
A (Very Good)
Average Age / ESL
25 / 71 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity
Replacement
Value
Storm Sewers
623 km
$2,781.7 M
Catch Basins
18,271 ea.
Maintenance Holes
10,789 ea.
Service Connections
47,468 ea.
Storm Culverts
1,145 ea.
$64.2 M
SWMF
108 ea.
$391.7 M
MTD
118 ea.
$15.4 M
Low Impact Developments
90 ea.
$16.4 M
Fleet and Equipment
A mix
$0.7 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
100
Storm Sewers
Storm Culverts
Stormwater Management
Facilities (SWMF)
Manufactured Treatment
Devices (MTD)
Low Impact
Developments (LID)
Fleet and Equipment
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
Condition Profile
Very Good
$2,539.4 M
78%
Good
$392.4 M
12%
Fair
$150.4 M
4%
Poor
$134.6 M
4%
Very Poor
$53.4 M
2%
A
(Very Good)
Avg. Condition
- Storm sewer condition is based on structural defects from
CCTV inspections converted into a PACP score. The City
maintains a ten-year inspection cycle and to date, 36% of
storm sewers have been inspected. The condition of the
remaining sewers is based on age and estimated service
life. The condition for the ancillary assets is tied to the
condition of the associated storm sewer.
- The City performs sediment surveys for SWMF on a
five-year cycle that measure the volume of accumulated
sediment. Condition is based on total suspended solids
(TSS) removal efficiency compared to the pond's original
design. Dry pond condition is based on age compared to
sediment removal frequency and inspections.
- For some storm culverts, condition is evaluated as part of
the City's biennial OSIM inspections. Other culverts utilize
age and estimated service life to understand condition.
- The condition of MTDs and LIDs is derived from their age
and estimated service life.
- Fleet/equipment condition is based on the assets'
utilization (km), or age and estimated service life.
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Storm
Sewers:
PACP Score
Storm
Culverts:
BCI
Storm
Culverts:
Age/ESL
SWMF: %
Below Design
TSS Removal
MTD and LID:
Age/ESL
Fleet/Equipment:
Utilization and
Age/ESL
Very Good
A
0 or 1
>80 to 100
0% to 19%
<0.5%
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
2
>70 to 80
>19% to 32%
0.5% to 4%
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
3
>50 to 70
>32% to 69%
4% to 5%
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
4
>35 to 50
>69% to 91%
5% to 7.5%
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
5
0 to 35
>91%
>7.5%
>100%
>0 to 0.2
Page 179
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: The City of Richmond Hill's stormwater management infrastructure
improves stormwater quality before it is released, provides erosion and flood protection, and
reduces environmental, property and human community risks from stormwater.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in collaboration with the
community, including planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Leverage Green
Infrastructure
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Stormwater Computer Model
- Evaluate stormwater
system capacity
- Identify climate change
implications to existing
service levels
- Identify infrastructure
improvements
Page 180
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Protection Provided by the Stormwater
Management System
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description, which may include maps, of the user groups or areas of the municipality
that are protected from flooding, including the extent of the protection provided by the municipal stormwater
management system.
Measure Type: Regulatory (Prescribed by O. Reg. 588/17)
Applicable Assets: Stormwater Management System
The City of Richmond Hill owns and operates stormwater management infrastructure including stormwater
ponds, low impact development (LID), storm culverts and storm sewers. All of these infrastructure assets
work together to protect the community and the surrounding environment from flooding and erosion, and
by improving the quality of stormwater before it is released back into the natural environment. In terms of
resiliency, approximately 57% of the properties in Richmond Hill are resilient to a 100-year storm event. The
stormwater management infrastructure network itself is about 73% resilient to a 5-year storm. The resiliency of
the City to storm events is expected to change over time in response to infill and new development. The City
will explore opportunities to enhance resiliency as part of future master plans.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Percentage of properties in the
municipality resilient to a
100-year storm.
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
57%
Maintain in
alignment with
Stormwater
Computer Model
and forthcoming
Master Plans
Scope
Percentage of the municipal
stormwater management system
resilient to a 5-year storm.
Regulatory
(O. Reg. 588/17)
73%
Maintain in
alignment with
Stormwater
Computer Model
and forthcoming
Master Plans
Page 181
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Protection Provided by the Stormwater
Management System
Page 182
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Stormwater Management System
Condition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of the Stormwater Management System is measured
and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Stormwater Management Assets
The condition of storm sewers is based on Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) ratings, which
are obtained through Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) inspections and calculated based on structural defects
observed in the storm sewers. The PACP rating scale ranges from 0 (Very Good) to 5 (Very Poor). The City
maintains a 10-year inspection cycle for all storm sewers and to date, approximately 36% of the storm sewer
network has received a CCTV inspection and a PACP technical score.
For other stormwater assets, various condition assessment methodologies are used (refer to the State of
the Infrastructure section above). The City monitors the percentage of these assets that are in Fair or better
condition. Additionally, the City monitors the average condition of SWMF and storm sewers.
Very Good
(PACP Score =
0 or 1)
Good
(PACP Score = 2)
Fair
(PACP Score = 3)
Poor
(PACP Score = 4)
Very Poor
(PACP Score = 5)
Page 183
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Stormwater Management System
Condition
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Reliability
Percentage of storm sewers in
Fair or better condition
City-Defined
99%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of culverts assets in
Fair or better condition
City-Defined
71%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of SWMF in Fair or
better condition
City-Defined
69%
Increase
Reliability
Percentage of storm sewers
inspected
City-Defined
36%
Increase
Quality
Average Storm Sewermain
Condition Index (SMCI)
City-Defined
90 (Very Good)
Maintain
(Good or better
Condition)
Quality
Average SWMF condition index
(SWMFCI)
City-Defined
59 (Fair)
Increase
*The City is in the process of collecting condition information for some of its stormwater assets. Once it does, it will evaluate and include
additional LOS measures herein to report on asset performance. Note that these assets are at present still part of the City's forecasting
exercise, and the financial reporting associated with maintaining these assets are incorporated into the findings of this AM Plan.
Page 184
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City undertakes modeling such as the Stormwater Computer Model to understand the
overall stormwater management infrastructure's capacity and constraints to improve efficiency.
- The City completes various studies and updates policies.
Maintenance
- The City undertakes condition assessments including, for example, sediment surveys that
measure the volume of accumulated sediment within certain pond types, and technical OSIM
condition inspections for some storm culverts.
- The City completes ongoing scheduled maintenance, repair and emergency activities.
- The City undertakes flushing of outlet structures, cleaning of storm culverts and catch basins,
and general maintenance of other assets.
- Flushing and CCTV inspections of storm sewers are completed proactively across the system.
- Fleet and equipment are maintained per the recommended standards.
Rehabilitation
- Proposed storm sewer candidates for renewal may be relined, if deemed feasible.
- Stormwater management facilities (i.e. ponds) are dredged to reduce the sediment volume
when their condition assessment indicates they are functioning below standard and/or
considered in Poor or Very Poor condition.
Replacement
- Storm sewer candidates in Poor or Very Poor condition identified through CCTV inspections
and PACP scores would be identified for replacement as part of the bundling of associated
linear road reconstruction capital projects.
- Stormwater management facilities are not replaced, but rather retrofitted where feasible to
improve their function to align with current standards.
- Other assets such as low impact development, manufactured treatment devices and storm
culverts would typically be replaced when they are no longer functioning, have reached the end
of their service life, or are in Poor or Very Poor condition.
- Fleet and equipment are replaced when condition, function and age warrant it.
Disposal
- Storm sewers are either removed during renewal or are disconnected and abandoned in place
depending on the construction circumstances. Abandoned storm sewers are capped and/or
grouted to protect other infrastructure.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- New and/or larger stormwater management assets are identified through technical analysis as
part of servicing plans related to new developments and growth.
- The City has completed a Stormwater Computer Model that can be used to identify
opportunities for expanding, improving and/or constructing new growth-related assets as future
development or intensification occurs.
- The City's Development Charges Background Study provides recommendations to upgrade
and/or expand the stormwater management assets based on growth.
- Stormwater management facilities may be upgraded, and/or expanded to maintain the
approved level of service and/or meet higher stormwater objectives, where feasible.
- Pipes that do not meet capacity requirements are upsized to increase capacity and can be
aligned with road reconstructions to minimize costs.
Page 185
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Storm Sewers Lifecycle
Replacement - Concrete and
metallic
Replacement/Relining -
PVC and other plastic
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
Most of the City's storm sewers are concrete followed by PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes, which generally have a 75 to 80
year service life. The City's lifecycle model leverages the CCTV inspections and PACP scores of structural defects, along
with the age and estimated service life based on its material type, to forecast when potential renewal should be examined.
Storm sewers may be relined on an as-needed basis if deemed feasible. The replacement of storm sewers would typically
be completed when they can be bundled with other linear assets within a project to reduce construction costs and
minimize impacts to residents. Maintenance holes, catch basins and connections are typically replaced at the same time
as the storm sewer.
Stormwater Management Facilities (Ponds) Lifecycle
Dredging -
Category 2
Dredging -
Category 1
Dredging -
Category 3
Treatment
- Dry Pond
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Treatment Threshold
Intervention
The City manages its stormwater management facilities (ponds) by completing sediment surveys for wet ponds that
assess the percentage of total suspended solids (TSS) removal efficiency compared to its design. These survey results
inform when sediment removal would be required to improve the function and condition of the pond back to its original
design. Generally, the City's ponds have been grouped into one of three categories based on how frequent sediment
removal would be required, ranging from less than 10 years (category 1) to upwards of over 30 years (category 3). Major
pond retrofits are also completed where feasible to ensure that water quality and quantity objectives and service levels are
optimized.
Page 186
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Capital Treatments
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Storm Culverts Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
The City's lifecycle strategies for concrete storm culverts are similar to structural road bridges and culverts and would
typically include a minor (between 20 and 30 years of age) and major (between 50 and 60 years of age) rehabilitation
with eventual full replacement between 70 and 80 years. For those culverts that received an OSIM condition inspection,
the recommended capital treatments and timing would be provided through those technical reports. Steel culverts would
typically be examined for replacement after 55 years when they have reached the end of their service life and/or condition
and function warrant replacement.
Manufactured Treatment Devices (MTD) and Low Impact Developments (LID) Lifecycle
Replacement - LID
Replacement - MTD
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
20
40
60
80
100
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
There are a variety of low impact development (LID) assets that the City owns and manages, including exfiltration and
infiltration facilities, bioretention areas, green roofs, permeable pavements, and a rainwater cistern. These assets would
typically have an average service life of approximately 20 years. Manufactured treatment devices (MTD) include oil grit
separators and filters, and would typically have an average service life of approximately 80 years. The City's lifecycle
model forecasts that these assets are generally replaced at the end of their service life or when their condition has
reached Poor or Very Poor, or are no longer functioning as required. These assets may be replaced sooner or may be
kept in service longer depending on their condition and service reliability.
Page 187
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Storm Sewers
- Catch Basins
- Maintenance Holes
- Service Connections
- Storm Culverts
- SWMF
- MTD
- LID
- Fleet/Equipment
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified in
budget, plan or
study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Traffic counts
- Road
classification
- Land use
- Asset type, size
and function
- Environmental
compliance and
asset type
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$2,374 M
$655 M
$241 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$400 M
$800 M
$1,200 M
$1,600 M
$2,000 M
$2,400 M
$2,800 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Very Low (A)
Climate Change Considerations
- Completed the development of the City-wide Stormwater Computer Model.
- Updated the City's Intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curve to account for a 15% increase in precipitation by 2050
due to climate change.
- Various programs and plans, including the stormwater infrastructure monitoring and inspection programs and the
City's watershed monitoring program.
Page 188
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Stormwater Management ($ millions)
*$3.0 M for stormwater management pond rehabilitations would be required annually.
Backlog
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.7 to $1.0 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
$3.0 M for stormwater management pond rehabilitations
Backlog
$72.7 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.7 to $1.0 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Stormwater*
72.7
5.4
+0.7 to 1.0
118.8
11.9
520.8
19.3
Page 189
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Stormwater Management (All)
Page 190
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Storm Sewers
Storm Sewermain Condition Index (SMCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Storm Sewermain Condition Index (SMCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.7 to $1.0 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 191
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Stormwater Management Facilities (SWMF)
SWMF Condition Index (SWMFCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
SWMF Condition Index (SWMFCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.7 to $1.0 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 192
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Storm Culverts
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Low Impact Developments (LID)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 193
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's Stormwater Computer Model provides an understanding of the overall stormwater management
infrastructure's capacity and constraints. It also provides insights and recommendations to optimize and
improve the existing system to manage the growing stormwater flows while considering the impacts of new
developments and climate change. These modelling results, along with the state of good repair renewal needs
for existing infrastructure identified through this 2025 Asset Management Plan, will inform future infrastructure
investments through the City's 10 Year Capital Budget and Forecast.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0 M
$4 M
$8 M
$12 M
$16 M
$20 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
$14 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
The capacity of Richmond Hill's Stormwater Management infrastructure is set to expand with several critical
projects included in the City's 10-Year Capital Budget, supported by the Stormwater Computer Model results.
Key initiatives such as the Mill Pond Park Revitalization ($8.7 million) will enhance stormwater capacity,
mitigate flooding risks, and improve community resilience. Ongoing allocations for stormwater growth vehicles
and equipment further support operational efficiency. These projects emphasize the City's proactive approach
to building a robust and resilient stormwater management system to address growth and climate change
challenges.
An operating forecast for Stormwater Management was developed as part of the City's 2024 Stormwater
Management Financial Plan. Per the Financial Plan, Richmond Hill's Stormwater Management operating and
maintenance costs associated with existing and new/expanded infrastructure are estimated to increase slightly
over the forecast period. These costs are projected to grow from over $8 million in 2025 to over $10 million by
2034 (excluding future inflationary pressures), reflecting incremental increases annually.
Page 194
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Identifying Additional Needs
The Stormwater Management financial forecasts presented in this Appendix represent the needs associated
with achieving the proposed condition-based levels of service for these assets. The analysis to forecast these
needs was completed by the City's EAM system, and in the case of stormwater assets, was supplemented with
an additional $3 M annual need that accounts for stormwater management pond rehabilitations, which are not
identified in the EAM.
The outputs from this analysis are provided to the City's subject matter experts annually, to assist them in
developing the Capital Plan and Forecast each year. In developing the Capital Plan and Forecast, the City's
subject matter experts balance the EAM's recommendations on asset condition-based needs with additional
projects related to additional needs, including the bundling of assets within the municipal right of way and other
performance-related needs, such as sewer upsizing.
Since storm sewers are an underground asset located in the municipal right of way, much like watermains
and sanitary sewers, they can be both expensive and disruptive to the community to replace. The City takes a
similar approach to all underground assets within the right of way, which is to look for opportunities to bundle
works together to leverage efficiencies and minimize disruption to the community. As a result, the City's capital
plan and forecast will include storm sewer projects that are identified as part of bundling exercises, that may
not be identified in the initial EAM analysis.
In addition, the City has more recently incorporated a performance-based approach to understanding its
stormwater management assets. It uses the results of its stormwater models to identify these performance-
based needs, which are included in the City's Capital Budget and Forecast. In 2024, the City recently
completed a stormwater rate study, which was informed by its condition, performance and bundling needs
identified through the capital planning and forecast process.
To supplement the condition-based forecasts provided in this Appendix, the City has also included needs
identified as part of the Stormwater Management Financial Plan below. These represent the additional needs
identified as part of that study, which include project bundling activities as well as performance-based needs.
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Stormwater Management Financial Plan Needs
EAM Suggested Needs (Proposed LOS)
EAM Suggested Needs (Proposed LOS) vs. Stormwater Management Financial Plan Needs
Page 195
Appendix E: Stormwater Management | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
The City has selected proposed levels of service and performance targets that align with its objectives to
ensure long-term sustainability and minimize risk to the community. The levels of service presented in this
AM Plan are mostly focused on the condition-based service level measures that have been developed by the
City. In addition, the City has identified other needs, including those associated with stormwater management
pond rehabilitations, project bundling and performance-based needs. These additional needs have been
incorporated into its annual Capital Plans and Forecasts, described previously in this Appendix.
For stormwater assets, condition is generally high (most assets are in Good and Very Good condition), and
assets are relatively young. The financial forecasts completed for stormwater management assets have
identified that historical spending trends were insufficient to continue to achieve the City's proposed levels
of service moving forward. In light of this, the City has completed a Stormwater Management Financial Plan,
which has established a newly updated stormwater management rate to assist it in funding condition and non-
condition-based needs over the next 10 years.
Given the anticipated revenues from this rate, the City expects to be able to fund its stormwater management
condition and performance-based needs over the next 10 years. As a result, the City has set out a plan for the
next 10 years that is both achievable and affordable.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
This AM Plan has identified that the City's stormwater needs for the next 10 years can be funded through the
implementation of the City's newly updated stormwater management rate. Beyond the 10-year time horizon,
the EAM has identified condition-based needs that are greater than the projected funding. In order to address
these needs, the City can seek to obtain more funding in the long term, and/or to re-evaluate its proposed
levels of service to seek a balance between costs, risks and service levels.
It should be noted, that in the case of stormwater management assets, the City's understanding of long-
term risks and needs is changing. As part of this AM Plan, the City is reporting on the stormwater network's
resilience to flooding. As data collection improves, so will the City's understanding of network vulnerabilities
and asset needs. A key factor influencing this is climate change. Much of the stormwater infrastructure
was built before climate change modeling was incorporated into design. Climate models are evolving as
subject matter experts begin to better understand and quantify the effects of climate change on stormwater
management assets. As these models evolve, the City remains committed to ongoing updates and continuous
improvement in assessing climate impacts.
In the face of changing needs, which could impact the City's plans and ability to afford improvements to its
stormwater network, the City will enact several strategies to balance service levels, costs and risks. For
example, the City prioritizes addressing high-risk flooding areas and critical assets, ensuring a tactical and
data-driven approach to long-term resilience. This prioritization will be formalized in the upcoming Stormwater
Master Plan to be completed in 2026. When considering stormwater ponds, the City evaluates all components
for capital budget planning; however, the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system currently assesses wet
and hybrid ponds based on total suspended solids (TSS) removal for legal compliance, while dry ponds are
assessed primarily by age, which does not directly correlate to flooding risks. As the City continues to expand
its performance-based understanding of assets, future iterations of the City's AM Plan will strive to include
these needs in the City's short and long-term forecasts.
Page 196
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix F
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Meander Park
Page 197
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
The City of Richmond Hill owns a network of parks that provide a variety of outdoor sporting
and leisure amenities, playgrounds and natural areas and trees. The City also owns supporting
assets like fleet and equipment that assist in the maintenance of parks.
Parks
The City of Richmond Hill owns and manages a network of Destination
Parks, Community Parks, Neighbourhood Parks, Linear Parks and
Urban Squares. Destination Parks provide a wide and unique variety of
recreational opportunities and are often the sites for major City events.
Community Parks are typically located adjacent to indoor recreation
facilities such as community centres and arenas and serve as hubs where
residents can gather, interact and participate in activities. Neighbourhood
Parks (which include local parks and parkettes) cater primarily to residents
living nearby and offer various active recreational spaces. Linear Parks
enable safe and comfortable connections for pedestrians and cyclists
between community destinations like parks, commercial/retail areas, and
schools. Urban Squares are found in densely populated, established city
centres and provide spaces for people to converge and interact naturally.
The City's parks contain a variety of features and furnishings that provide
comfortable and convenient places to relax and engage in leisure activities
(e.g. gazebos, fountains, various wall structures, sculptures, fencing, etc.).
Outdoor Recreation Amenities
The City of Richmond Hill offers a diverse range of outdoor recreation
amenities within its network of parks. Outdoor sporting amenities provide
spaces for both organized sport and individual pursuits and offer an
environment for physical fitness and social interaction. These include
soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball courts, bocce
and pickle ball courts. The incorporation of lighting systems at some of
these sports facilities extends their availability beyond daylight hours. The
City also owns and maintains outdoor amenities for children, including
an extensive inventory of playgrounds and splash pads. Other unique
offerings include outdoor skating facilities, skateboard/BMX facilities, and a
community garden.
Supporting Facilities
Supporting facilities are a collection of eight unique buildings located
within parks which support park and outdoor recreation facility users.
Some facilities, such as those located in Lake Wilcox Park, Town Park,
and Phyllis Rawlinson Park, offer amenities like washrooms and changing
rooms. Other buildings like the Crosby Tennis Clubhouse support and
enhance organized sports programming by providing a dedicated venue
for both seasoned players and beginners alike to engage in training,
competitive events and social gatherings.
Unity Park
Crosby Park
Lake Wilcox Park
Page 198
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Street and Park Trees
The City owns and maintains over 73,000 individual trees which are
primarily located along the boulevards of City-owned roads, as well as in
parks and around municipal facilities. The City's trees comprise an array
of species (e.g. maple, oak, pine, cedar) that play an important role in the
City by improving air quality, providing shade, and enhancing the aesthetic
appeal and livability of the community.
Natural Areas
The City has a network of nearly 890 hectares of natural areas that are rich
in biodiversity and function as intricate ecosystems, while also providing
spaces for recreational opportunities. Most of the City's natural areas are
woodlands, which are treed areas that form a significant component of the
City's urban forest canopy. The City also contains wetlands, which play
an integral role in the City's Greenway System by providing numerous
ecological benefits, such as improved water quality, erosion control and
flood abatement. Other areas like meadows are characterized by grasses
and wildflowers and provide crucial habitat for pollinators. Natural areas are
strategically managed and preserved in partnership with the Toronto and
Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and other partners to safeguard
ecological diversity, protect wildlife, and ensure a sustainable balance
between urban development and environmental conservation.
Fleet and Equipment
The City manages and maintains its parks, outdoor recreation infrastructure
and open spaces through a diverse inventory of fleet and equipment. A
variety of equipment is used for landscaping as well as maintaining the
urban forest canopy (e.g. chainsaws, lawnmowers, trimmers). Specialized
equipment used for outdoor sports facilities, such as line markers for
fields and baseball diamond draggers, ensure optimal playing conditions
for patrons. The City also owns equipment like snowplows, salters, and
snowblowers used for winter maintenance of pathways, parking lots and
facility entranceways. In addition to equipment, City staff use a variety of
vehicles to perform routine inspections and repairs to ensure that the City's
parks and outdoor spaces remain useable, accessible and safe for use by
the public.
Newberry Park Wetland
Page 199
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$465 M
Average Condition
B (Good)
Average Age / ESL
23 / 36 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity Replacement
Value
Parks
171 ea.
$46.4 M
Outdoor Recreation Amenities
528 ea.
$68.7 M
Supporting Facilities
8 ea.
$7.9 M
Parking Lots and Illumination
28 ea.
$9.7 M
Street and Park Trees
73,199 ea.
$155.6 M
Natural Areas
889 ha
$160.9 M
Fleet and Equipment
A mix
$16.3 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
Parks
Outdoor Recreation
Amenities
Supporting
Facilities*
Parking Lots
and Illumination
Street and
Park Trees
Fleet and
Equipment
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
*Age and ESL reflects building components, not facility as a whole
Condition Profile
Very Good
$79.5 M
17%
Good
$181.9 M
39%
Fair
$160.2 M
34%
Poor
$20.9 M
5%
Very Poor
$22.9 M
5%
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
B
(Good)
Avg. Condition
- Park asset condition is based on age/estimated service life.
- The condition of outdoor recreation assets is based on
technical and visual assessments as well as age/estimated
service life.
- Street and park tree condition is based on visual inspections
and age/estimated service life.
- Condition for natural areas is evaluated based on the
dominant vegetation community type, its frequency on the
landscape and geographical requirements of the ecosystem.
Natural areas are formally inspected every 5-10 years, and
twice per year for those adjacent to trails.
- Condition of supporting facilities is based on Building
Condition Assessments (BCAs) completed over a three-year
cycle.
- The condition of fleet and equipment is based on its
utilization (km) as well as age/estimated service life.
- Condition of parking lots is based on visual inspections, and
illumination based on age/estimated service life.
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Parks:
Age/ESL
Outdoor
Amenities:
Condition
Assessment
and Age/
ESL
Supporting
Facilities:
Building
Condition
Assessments
Trees:
Visual
Inspections
and Age/
ESL
Natural
Areas:
Vegetation
Community
and
Ecosystem
Fleet and
Equipment:
Utilization
and Age/
ESL
Parking Lots:
Condition
Assessment
and Age/ESL
Very Good
A
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
>100%
0 to 0.2
0 to 0.2
0 to 0.2
0 to 0.2
0 to 0.2
0 to 0.2
Page 200
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: Richmond Hill provides greenspaces (i.e. parks, open spaces,
natural areas) and outdoor recreation spaces that are safe, accessible and enjoyable and
promote vibrant neighbourhoods, community well-being and belonging.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in collaboration with the
community, including planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence based and data driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Land Use Planning
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Leverage Green
Infrastructure
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Parks Plan and Urban Forest Management
Plan (UFMP)
- Expand parks
- Improve function of parks
- Enhance connectivity of
parks, trails and Greenway
System
- Create flexible multi-use
parks for year-round use
by all
- Strengthen urban forest to
increase resilience
Page 201
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Parks and Outdoor
Recreation Assets
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description and map of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Amenities located across the
municipality. Description of other Parks and Outdoor Recreation Assets.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Parks and Outdoor Recreation Assets
Richmond Hill not only provides outdoor recreational spaces and amenities including sports fields, courts,
pickleball, playgrounds, splash pads and outdoor structures among others, but also offers parks and
open spaces that contribute to the overall vibrancy of the community. They enhance the quality of life and
function as hubs for social, physical, mental health, and environmental connection. This dual focus ensures
a comprehensive network that caters to a growing and diverse population, by connecting residents to both
new and established parks and to the broader Greenway System. The City of Richmond Hill works towards
equitable access for all residents and reaffirms the commitment to making Richmond Hill a greener and more
interconnected urban space for both current and future residents. As outlined in the Parks Plan, the City will
continue to expand its park system in Richmond Hill's intensification areas and explore enhancements to the
functionality of existing parks to accommodate increased usage and evolving community needs.
The City's current urban forest canopy cover is 30%, based on the City's most recent Urban Forest Study
completed in 2022. The City is currently undertaking its Official Plan update, which is considering the possibility
of increasing the urban forest canopy cover target from a minimum of 30% to 35% canopy cover. At this
time, that update remains in process and is not yet adopted. If adopted, it will be reflected in future asset
management plans.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Overall average parkland
provision level in square metres
per person
City-Defined
15.6
Tracking for Trends
Scope
Urban forest canopy cover (2022
Urban Forest Study)
City-Defined
30%
Maintain
(minimum 30%
target)
Page 202
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Parks and Outdoor
Recreation Assets
Page 203
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Condition of Parks and Outdoor
Recreation Assets
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how the condition of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Assets are
measured and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Various Parks and Outdoor Recreation Assets
The City uses a range of condition assessment approaches suited to the assets' unique function and needs.
Hard surface sporting amenities and playgrounds are inspected monthly while splash pads are inspected
weekly. Any deficiencies are identified and tracked in the City's maintenance management system (Maximo)
and work orders are generated to improve them. These inspections also determine the overall Corporate Asset
Management condition. When formal technical assessments are deemed not feasible, age and estimated
service life are used.
Examples of Park and Outdoor Recreation Conditions
Very Good
(Performance =
>0.8 to 1)
Good
(Performance =
>0.6 to 0.8)
Fair
(Performance =
>0.4 to 0.6)
Poor
(Performance =
>0.2 to 0.4)
Very Poor
(Performance =
0 to 0.2)
Page 204
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Condition of Parks and Outdoor
Recreation Assets
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Parks and outdoor recreation
condition index (PRCI)
City-Defined
63 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Reliability
Percentage of parks site assets
within service life
City-Defined
89%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of outdoor recreation
amenities within service life
City-Defined
89%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Jefferson Salamander Park
Page 205
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Condition of Parks and Outdoor
Recreation Assets
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of Parks facilities is measured and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Supporting Facilities
The City undertakes continual inspections of its Parks and Outdoor Recreation supporting facilities and utilizes
a computerized maintenance management system (Maximo) to track and complete maintenance and repairs.
The City also undertakes formal Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) on a rotating three-year cycle to
assess the condition of these Facilities. The BCA results are categorized into a Corporate Asset Management
condition rating to report in this AM Plan and are also used to inform capital renewals.
Condition
Category
Condition FCI
Range
Condition Range Description
Very Good
<10%
New building or building that has recently undergone a significant degree of
renewal
Good
10% to <20%
Minimal service interruptions; minor renewals required
Fair
20% to <30%
Intermittent service interruptions; minor/major lifecycle renewals required in the
next five years
Poor
30% to <50%
Some service interruptions; major lifecycle renewals required in the next five years
Very Poor
>50%
Required renewal costs approaching building replacement cost; consideration for
asset replacement or demolition
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality, Reliability
Weighted average FCI of
supporting facilities
City-Defined
0.20 (Fair)*
Maintain
(Good condition)
*The average FCI for supporting facilities is slightly past the threshold between Good and Fair condition.
Page 206
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City makes continuous improvements in operations, utilization of IT systems (e.g. Maximo)
and condition assessment approaches for park assets.
- Process for regular inspections and assessments of asset functionality and condition.
- Studies, plans, strategies and by-laws such as: the Natural Area Inventory update, Emerald
Ash Borer (EAB) Strategy, Ecological Restoration Plans, Parks Plan, Tennis Strategy, Parkland
Dedication By-law, etc.
- Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) are completed for all City-owned facilities on a three-
year cycle including for park buildings (completed in 2022/2023).
Maintenance
- General inspection of parks assets and grounds maintenance (including litter clean up, grass
cutting, etc.) are undertaken daily.
- Regular ongoing visual inspections when other work is conducted in the vicinity.
- Scheduled maintenance/cleaning is conducted hourly, daily, weekly and monthly.
- Reactive maintenance/cleaning and winter maintenance/snow removal are completed.
- Hard surface sporting amenities and playgrounds are inspected monthly, while splash pads are
inspected weekly when operational during the summer. Maintenance is completed as required.
- Other seasonal assets (e.g. irrigation, field lining, nets, tarps) are inspected and commissioned
and decommissioned at the beginning and end of the seasons.
- Trees are visually inspected, maintained and pruned on a 10-year cycle.
- Natural Areas are formally inspected every 5 to 10 years. Through the City's trail inspection
program, trees within natural areas adjacent to trails are examined twice per year.
- Maximo software program is used to manage the maintenance of buildings.
- Fleet and equipment are maintained per the recommended standards.
Rehabilitation
- Major deficiencies identified through the regular ongoing inspections are prioritized for
rehabilitations (e.g. tennis court resurfacing, artificial turf repairs and rehabilitations).
- Natural areas undergo restoration based on their condition and other factors such as dominant
vegetation community type, as guided by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management Plan, and
in future will be guided by the Natural Heritage Strategy.
- The rehabilitation of buildings is completed as identified through the BCAs, EAM and VFA.
Replacement
- Park assets are replaced when their condition, function, reliability and/or end of life warrant it.
- Trees are replaced due to a natural decline in health or damage from weather events and
urban pressures as required.
- Natural areas would be restored through the City's ecosystem restoration programming.
- Building components are replaced through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program.
- Fleet and equipment are replaced when condition, function and age warrant it.
Disposal
- Disposals are typically coordinated when the asset is replaced.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- The City's 2022 Parks Plan directs for the location of new parks, park revitalization projects and
outdoor recreation amenities to serve the growing population.
- As the City receives Site Plan and Subdivision applications, new parks are secured and park
revitalization projects are prioritized per the direction in the 2022 Parks Plan.
- The annual Capital Budget and Capital Plan forecast identify the timeline for delivering new
parks, park revitalization projects and their associated outdoor recreation amenities.
Page 207
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Hard Surface Outdoor Recreation Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
The lifecycle treatments for the City's hard surface outdoor sport amenities (e.g. tennis courts) would typically include
regular and ongoing maintenance, potential resurfacing of the asphalt if appropriate at mid-life (approximately 10 to 15
years) and then eventual reconstruction sometime after 30 years (based on estimated service life). The timing of these
treatments can vary depending on the recommendations from consultant technical assessments and bundling of similar
assets together (e.g. fencing and illumination tied to those outdoor recreation amenities.)
Park Site Assets Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
There are a wide range of site assets within the City's parks, including illumination, fencing and structures among others.
These assets are inspected, maintained and repaired as necessary. Typically, these assets would be replaced when their
condition has deteriorated where they are no longer functioning (i.e. condition) and/or have reached the end of their life.
The timing of these treatments can vary depending on the bundling of similar assets and/or the proximity of other assets in
need of renewal. Condition inspection assessments can also determine when these assets should be replaced. They may
be kept in service longer if they are reliable or they may be replaced sooner if they are no longer functioning and/or have
premature damage.
Page 208
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Park Site Assets
- Outdoor Recreation
- Supporting Facilities
- Street and Park Trees
- Natural Areas
- Fleet & Equipment
- Parking Lots
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified
in budget, plan
or study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Park classification,
type of amenity,
facility building
component type
and function
- Asset type,
function, size and
location
- Environmental
compliance
- Asset type
- Impact to
surrounding
area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$147 M
$263 M
$56 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$100 M
$200 M
$300 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- The Parks Plan included policy direction to plan for resiliency to climate change by applying a "climate change
lens" to the overall planning, design, maintenance and operations of the City's park system.
- The Community Stewardship Program (CSP) continues to work with partners to restore and enhance Richmond
Hill's natural environment.
- The City works with TRCA to conduct ecological restoration and enhancements, such as the creation of meadows,
to improve habitat for species at risk flora and fauna.
- The City regularly completes an Urban Forest Study to understand urban forest distribution and condition, assess
climate vulnerability and quantify ecological services.
- The City incorporates sustainable and energy efficient elements in building designs and construction.
Page 209
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Parks and Outdoor Recreation ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.25 to $0.30 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
$0.3 M for street and park tree replacements
*$0.3 M for street and park tree replacements due to storm events and invasive species would be required annually.
Backlog
$27.1 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.25 to $0.30 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Parks*
27.1
3.1
+0.25 to 0.30
45.6
4.6
186.8
6.9
Page 210
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Parks and Outdoor Recreation (All)
Page 211
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Parks and Outdoor Recreation Condition Index (PRCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Parks and Outdoor Recreation Condition Index (PRCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.25-$0.30 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 212
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Supporting Facilities
Facility Condition Index (FCI) over time
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Facility Condition Index ( FCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.25-$0.30 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Unconstrained (All Richmond Hill-owned Facilities)
*The City is proposing to maintain a system-wide average FCI rating of "Good" as its proposed LOS for all facilities
assets. The system-wide FCI projections are juxtaposed in this figure against the service-level FCI forecasts, to illustrate
the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs.
Page 213
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's Parks Plan outlines a comprehensive future vision for Richmond Hill's Parks and Outdoor
Recreation services, to service anticipated population growth and emerging trends. Key strategies in the Plan
include expanding and revitalizing the parks system, enhancing the functionality of existing parks, seamlessly
connecting parks to trails and the larger Greenway System, and championing flexible, multi-use designs
that accommodate year-round outdoor recreational activities. This Parks Plan, together with upcoming Asset
Management Plans, will shape the parkland revitalization, expansion, and state of good repair investment
decisions made in the City's future 10-Year Capital Budgets and Forecasts. In addition, the forthcoming Natural
Heritage Strategy and Invasive Species Management Strategy will provide guidance on future ecological
restoration.
The City's Parks and Outdoor Recreation amenities are planned for substantial expansion and revitalization,
guided by the City's Parks Plan and included in the 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast. The RH David
Dunlap Observatory Park, with a total investment of $56.4 million, remains a flagship project, transforming
the site into a state-of-the-art public space for the growing Yonge Street corridor. Other significant projects
include the Mill Pond Park Revitalization ($22.9 million), Town Park Revitalization and Unity Park Repair and
Replacement ($18.5 million), and Richmond Green Revitalization ($10.2 million), which will enhance key
community parks and support population growth. Additional investments aimed at creating vibrant recreational
spaces include the revitalization of various parks such as Dr. James Langstaff Park and Ozark Park, and
the creation of the new Dave Barrow Civic Square Park, Heron View Community Park and West Gormley
Community Park. Collectively, these initiatives will ensure a unified and interconnected parks network that
meets the needs of Richmond Hill's expanding community.
The estimated operating costs to support the existing and future expansion of the City's Parks and Outdoor
Recreation infrastructure could increase from over $11 million in 2025 to over $17 million by 2034 in today's
dollars (excluding future inflationary pressures). This forecasted increase in operating costs is due to the
future planned expansions to the RH David Dunlap Observatory Park, Mill Pond Park, Town and Unity Park,
Richmond Green and other park revitalization projects. If these are constructed as identified in the City 10 Year
Capital Budget and Forecast, there will be a steady growth in the estimated operating costs to support these
capital expansions.
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
$0 M
$4 M
$8 M
$12 M
$16 M
$20 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
Page 214
Appendix F: Parks and Outdoor Recreation | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
Proposed Levels of Service for Parks and Outdoor Recreation assets have been selected to ensure the long-
term sustainability of service provision for these assets.
Generally, service levels for these assets remain high, and the City is proposing to maintain this value.
Historical spending trends, projected forward, reveal that Parks and Outdoor recreation assets will continue
to maintain service levels within an acceptable range in this scenario, however, in later years of the 27-year
forecast, pressures will arise without additional funding.
Note that all facilities within this service propose to maintain their average condition (measured through FCI)
at a value of "Good", which is part of a system-wide facilities LOS that takes into account the average FCI for
all facilities across all service areas. The City proposes to achieve this value from a system-wide perspective,
and as a result, FCIs of individual facilities may vary. To provide context, the FCI forecast presented for Parks
and Outdoor Recreation supporting facilities was juxtaposed against the system-wide FCI forecast given an
unconstrained funding scenario. This was done to illustrate the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding
is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs. In practice, the City will balance its needs
across facilities as required to ensure that it maximizes its ability to achieve its service level targets and
minimizes potential risks.
The phased-in approach to increasing spending in the forecasts was established to illustrate a methodology
that attempts to gradually increase spending to maximize the potential for affordability in practice. The City will
evaluate on a year-by-year basis the best way to allocate its available funding to minimize risks and provide
the best possible service levels.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
With respect to supporting facilities, forecasts reveal a decline in service levels when projecting forward
historical spending levels. As with all other facilities detailed in this AM Plan, these facilities form part of a larger
portfolio of facilities. The City's facilities portfolio is under the responsibility of the City's Facility Management
Division, which receives a pool of funding and has the ability to allocate it across facilities within the City's
various service areas. Parks supporting facilities represent a small portion of that portfolio (in value), and
generally are comprised of lower-risk assets. Given these conditions, the Facility Management Division has
the ability to re-allocate funding to address short-term needs, which may mitigate some of the increases in
the Facility Condition Index that are forecasted under projected funding scenarios. The Facility Management
Division will allocate funding as needed across its portfolio of facilities to mitigate short-term pressures and
balance risks, funding and service levels into the future. For facilities that have short-term pressures, increased
maintenance may be required to ensure they continue to provide high service levels until such time that capital
works can be funded.
With respect to other parks and outdoor recreation assets, the City will continue to prioritize critical projects
and high-profile assets to ensure the City's Parks and Outdoor Recreation assets continue to support the
delivery of high-quality services to the community.
Note that facilities replacement costs were developed from a costing source integrated into the City's Facilities
Management software. Currently, the City is undergoing a process of evaluating and updating these costs.
Once this evaluation is complete, updated facilities replacement costs will be reflected in future iterations of the
City's AM Plan.
Page 215
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix G
Recreation Facilities
Oak Ridges Community Centre
Page 216
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Recreation Facilities
The City of Richmond Hill offers a wide variety of accessible recreation programs for all ages
and interests. These programs are provided through the City's community centres, arenas, and
other recreation facilities. The City also owns a variety of equipment that assists in delivering
these services.
Community Centres
Richmond Hill's recreation facilities include 11 community centres that
total approximately 32,000 square metres in area. They include Bayview
Hill Community Centre, Centennial Pool, Elgin West Community Centre,
Lake Wilcox Community Centre, Langstaff Community Centre, Lois
Hancey Aquatic Centre (The Wave Pool), M. L. McConaghy Centre, Oak
Ridges Community Centre, Richmond Green Sports Complex, Richvale
Community Centre, and Rouge Woods Community Centre. These
community centres collectively offer an array of amenities, including,
six aquatic centres, nine gymnasiums, a fitness centre, artificial turf and
dedicated age-specific facilities among other features. The community
centres are strategically located across the City to ensure accessibility
and serve as hubs for social interaction, physical activity and community
engagement.
Arenas
There are five major arenas for use by the community. These facilities
include the Ed Sackfield Arena, Elvis Stojko Arena, Tom Graham Arena,
Bond Lake Arena and Elgin Barrow Arena. Collectively, these arenas
provide a total of over 31,000 square metres of space and include eight
ice pads, an indoor track and a fitness centre among other features. These
arenas are central to fostering community engagement in sports and
physical activities, particularly ice-based sports like hockey and skating.
The location of these arenas provides accessible amenities and caters to
the evolving demographic and recreational needs of the community.
Public Education and Outreach Facilities
The City's public education and outreach facility is the Richmond Hill David
Dunlap Observatory. This 2,062 square metre building is a world-class
facility that melds historical astronomical research with public education
and outreach. It is one of Canada's National Historic Sites and also houses
an optical telescope. The Observatory Dome is protected as a cultural
heritage landscape under the Ontario Heritage Act and has a unique
combination of natural and scientific features and amenities that make it
an ideal place for education and public outreach. Currently, the facility also
provides family programs, heritage tours, and lectures.
Bayview Hill Community Centre
Tom Graham Arena
RH David Dunlap Observatory
Page 217
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Recreation Facilities
Supplemental Facilities
The supplemental facilities asset category is comprised of a unique
collection of 13 buildings, which complement and enhance the City's
recreation services. These facilities provide spaces for an array of
recreational programming and services such as weaving and pottery. They
also provide space for administration services in support of recreation
programs as well as events.
Recreation Equipment
Recreation equipment is a comprehensive collection of aquatic equipment,
fitness equipment, and other major equipment such as water slides and
pool UV systems that support recreation programs and are often found in
the recreation facilities. Aquatic equipment includes assets that support
the City's swimming pools and include, for example, public announcement
systems, lane ropes, digital displays, and furniture in facilities like Bayview
Hill, Centennial, Elgin West, Oak Ridges, Richvale, and the Lois Hancey
Aquatic Centre (The Wave Pool). Fitness equipment includes assets such
as fitness benches; cardio machines; and, weight and strength-training
equipment. These are integral to the fitness studios at Ed Sackfield Arena
and Oak Ridges Community Centre and provide residents with access to
state-of-the-art fitness equipment that support a variety of workout options.
Operational Fleet and Equipment
The fleet and equipment asset category is comprised of a diverse collection
of equipment that support the operational needs of the City's recreational
spaces. Fleet, for example, includes vehicles such as Zambonis and ice
edgers that help provide high-quality and safe ice for recreational skating,
hockey games, and other ice sport events. Other fleet assets include vans
and trailers, which are utilized to support the City's recreational facilities
and sites.
Boynton House
Oak Ridges Fitness Centre
Page 218
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$359 M
Average Condition
B (Good)
Average Age / ESL
30 / 51 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity Replacement
Value
Community Centres
11 ea.
$158.7 M
Arenas
5 ea.
$120.6 M
Public Education and
Outreach Facilities
1 ea.
$32.4 M
Supplemental Facilities
13 ea.
$19.8 M
Parking Lots and Illumination
20 ea.
$18.4 M
Recreation Equipment
A mix
$7.7 M
Fleet and Equipment
A mix
$0.9 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
100
Community Centres*
Arenas*
Public Education and
Outreach Facilities*
Supplemental Facilities*
Parking Lots and
Illumination
Recreation Equipment
Fleet and Equipment
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
*Age and ESL reflects building components, not facility as a whole
Condition Profile
Very Good
$70.1 M
20%
Good
$106.8 M
30%
Fair
$112.0 M
31%
Poor
$61.7 M
17%
Very Poor
$7.9 M
2%
B
(Good)
Avg. Condition
- The condition of recreation facilities is based on their
Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) completed in
2022/2023. The BCA results are converted into Corporate
Asset Management condition ratings. The City completes
BCAs for all City-owned facilities over a three-year cycle.
- The condition of recreation equipment is based on age/
estimated service life. This group of assets includes
fitness equipment, aquatic equipment, and other
supporting assets.
- For waterslides, condition is based on formal annual
inspections in compliance with O. Reg. 221/01:
Amusement Devices, which are categorized into a
Corporate Asset Management condition rating.
- The condition of supporting fleet and equipment is based
on its utilization (km) and age/estimated service life.
- The condition of parking lots is based on visual
inspections, and illumination is based on age/estimated
service life.
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Facilities:
Building
Condition
Assessments
Recreation
Equipment:
Age/ESL
Fleet and
Equipment:
Utilization and
Age/ESL
Waterslides:
Condition
Assessments
Parking Lots:
Condition
Assessments and
Age/ESL
Very Good
A
>0.8 to 1.0
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>0.6 to 0.8
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>0.4 to 0.6
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>0.2 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
0 to 0.2
>100%
0 to 0.2
0 to 0.2
0 to 0.2
Page 219
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: The City offers a broad range of accessible recreation programs
for all ages and interests that brings the community closer together and improves residents'
quality of life, supports healthy lifestyles, and provides opportunities to connect.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
- Build a workforce for tomorrow to ensure that expertise and continuity is in place to
deliver on the City's aspirations for the future.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Apply Climate Change Lens
to Corporate Governance
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Recreation and Culture Plan
- Recreation
opportunities for all
- Community hubs
- Facility Service Levels
- Equitable Access
- Fiscally responsible
planning
Page 220
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Recreation Facilities
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description and map of the Recreation Facilities located across the municipality.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Recreation Facilities
Richmond Hill offers a diverse range of indoor recreation facilities and programs to the community through
arenas and community centres that have aquatic amenities (i.e. pools), gymnasiums, fitness centres, an
indoor track and multi-purpose rooms, among others. These facilities cater to all ages, by having spaces
designated for youth and adults aged 55+ as well. As Richmond Hill experiences demographic changes and
further intensification, there is a strategic focus on adapting these services to meet both current and future
needs. The City is particularly responsive to the evolving preferences of its community by ensuring that its
recreation services remain accessible, relevant, and sustainable. The City plans to expand recreation service
opportunities through the construction of the future North Leslie Community Centre and a recreation facility in
the emerging Richmond Hill Centre intensification area, as detailed in the Recreation and Culture Plan.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Recreation facility visits
City-Defined
1.8 million
Tracking for Trends
Scope
Current supply of facility
amenities/spaces
City-Defined
97
Increase in
alignment with
Recreation and
Culture Plan
Elvis Stojko Arena
Page 221
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Recreation Facilities
Page 222
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Recreation Facilities Asset Condition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of Recreation Facilities is measured and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Recreation Facilities Assets
The City undertakes continual inspections of its Recreation Facilities and utilizes a computerized maintenance
management system (Maximo) to track and complete maintenance and repairs. The City also undertakes
formal Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) on a rotating three-year cycle to assess the condition of
Recreation Facilities. The BCA results are categorized into a Corporate Asset Management condition rating to
report in this AM Plan and are also used to inform capital renewals.
For other assets, including equipment, the asset's age and estimated service life are used. These values are
converted into a recreation equipment condition index for reporting and forecasting purposes.
Condition
Category
Condition FCI
Range
Condition Range Description
Very Good
<10%
New building or building that has recently undergone a significant degree of
renewal
Good
10% to <20%
Minimal service interruptions; minor renewals required
Fair
20% to <30%
Intermittent service interruptions; minor/major lifecycle renewals required in the
next five years
Poor
30% to <50%
Some service interruptions; major lifecycle renewals required in the next five years
Very Poor
>50%
Required renewal costs approaching building replacement cost; consideration for
asset replacement or demolition
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Recreation Equipment Condition
Index (RECI)
City-Defined
62 (Good)
Increase
Quality, Reliability
Weighted average FCI of
community centres and arenas
City-Defined
0.19 (Good)
Maintain (Good
condition)
Reliability
Percentage of recreation facility
equipment within service life
City-Defined
77%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Page 223
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Other
The City has developed a suite of additional LOS measures for some of its assets, that it utilizes to understand,
monitor and report on various aspects of the service. It expects to expand and enhance these over time, as it
continues to improve its LOS framework and performance measures.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Environmental
Annual hydro consumption (kWh)
per square metre (community
centres)
City-Defined
208.2
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual natural gas consumption
(m3) per square metre (community
centres)
City-Defined
28.1
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual water use intensity (m3)
per square metre (community
centres)
City-Defined
3.6
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual hydro consumption (kWh)
per square metre (arenas)
City-Defined
223.4
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual natural gas consumption
(m3) per square metre (arenas)
City-Defined
28.3
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual water use intensity (m3)
per square metre (arenas)
City-Defined
2.8
Tracking for Trends
Elgin West Community Centre
Page 224
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Approaches
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City makes continuous improvements in operations as well as other asset related
initiatives.
- Recreation buildings conform to Richmond Hill, Provincial and Federal government policies,
standards and regulations.
- Inspections and Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) are completed for all City-owned
facilities on a three-year cycle, including for Recreation buildings, which were completed in
2022/2023.
Maintenance
- Fitness and aquatic recreation equipment is typically inspected daily/weekly/monthly to ensure
it is functioning and safe. Preventative maintenance is also undertaken on a regular basis to
limit breakdowns and ensure reliability, functionality and safety.
- Scheduled preventative maintenance actions are planned and executed to manage the
Recreation buildings. Reactive maintenance activities are also performed as required.
- Richmond Hill uses Maximo to manage the maintenance program of the City's Recreation
facilities.
Rehabilitation
- Based on the regular inspections of fitness and aquatic equipment, repairs would be completed
if required. Typically, these assets would not be rehabilitated, but would be replaced.
- For critical assets like waterslides, daily inspections as well as formal technical assessments
are completed once per year in compliance with O. Reg. 221/01: Amusement Devices. Any
repairs and/or rehabilitations are identified and completed as required.
- Building assets are highly varied in type and complexity. They include structural, mechanical
and electrical components. The rehabilitation of the various Recreation building components are
completed as identified through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program.
Replacement
- Most Recreation equipment including fitness and aquatic equipment would typically be replaced
either at the end of their service life and/or sooner if the equipment is no longer functioning as
intended.
- The replacement of the various building components of the City's Recreation facilities are
determined through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program and completed as required.
Disposal
- Appropriate and proper disposal occurs when assets are replaced or renewed.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- The City's Recreation and Culture Plan recommends service improvements that can lead to the
acquisition of new equipment and/or enhancement of building capacity and new facilities (e.g.
North Leslie Community Centre).
- AODA compliance remains achieved through Recreation building asset component renewals
considered during rehabilitation and/or replacement.
- Recreation building assets could be considered for replacement to address energy efficiency,
water consumption, and/or technical and regulatory obsolescence.
Page 225
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Fitness Equipment Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
The lifecycle model for fitness equipment forecasts that they would typically be replaced at the end of their service life,
which would be around 5 to 10 years depending on the type of equipment. Fitness equipment is typically inspected daily
and preventative maintenance is undertaken on a regular basis, along with any needed repairs to ensure reliability and
functionality. These assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced sooner based on condition, functionality
and reliability.
Aquatic Equipment Lifecycle
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
Aquatic equipment includes a variety of assets that support the City's swimming pools. These assets receive daily safety
checks and are replaced immediately if required. The lifecycle model forecasts that they would be typically replaced at the
end of their service life, which can vary between 5 to 15 years depending on the type of equipment. These assets may be
replaced sooner or kept in service longer if they are in good working order.
Page 226
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Amusement Devices (Waterslides) Lifecycle
Given the importance of the waterslides, they receive daily/weekly/monthly inspections along with annual formal technical
condition assessments. They receive regular ongoing maintenance, repairs and/or rehabilitations. While the lifecycle
model forecasts they should be examined for potential replacement at the end of their service life of 25 years, these
assets may be kept in service longer provided they are in good working order and are reliable. They would continue to
receive ongoing inspections and maintenance.
Recreation Facilities Lifecycle
The Recreation Facilities are composed of a number of different building assets. Structural assets include components
like foundations and above-grade structures, which generally do not require renewal over the life of the building. Building
shell assets (i.e. roof and exterior walls) have an average estimated service life of around 30 years, although some
components, such as metal roofs and window frames, have significantly longer service lives. Service assets (mechanical,
plumbing and electrical) can have a 20 to 45 year service life. Interior assets (i.e. wall, flooring, and ceiling) may last 10
to 40 years depending on the material and level of occupancy/traffic volume of the facility. Once the condition of these
assets has deteriorated to poor/very poor and/or have reached the end of their life, the City's lifecycle model forecasts
they would typically be replaced. These assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced sooner based on
criticality, condition, and effectiveness of alternative lifecycle treatments like repairs and rehabilitations.
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
Replacement -
Shell
Replacement -
Interiors
Replacement
- Services
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
Page 227
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Community Centres
- Arenas
- Public Education/
Outreach Facilities
- Supplemental Facilities
- Recreation Equipment
- Fleet and Equipment
- Parking Lots/Illumination
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current
capacity
- Future
expansion/
new need
identified in
budget, plan
or study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Equipment/
building
component type
and function
- Asset type and
function
- Environmental
compliance
- Impact to
surrounding
area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$76 M
$223 M
$59 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$100 M
$200 M
$300 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- Installation of equipment that improves water efficiency, e.g. replacement of pool filtration system at Bayview Hill
Community Centre leading to reduced water consumption and operational costs.
- Successfully completed equipment replacements at Richmond Green Sports Complex, Elgin West Community
Centre, and McConaghy Centre for improved energy and utility savings.
- A 2050 net zero emissions goal for City facilities and the Corporate Energy Plan will continue.
- Recommissioning studies were conducted for five City arenas, and low-emissivity ceilings and over-the-ice LED
lighting were installed at Tom Graham and Ed Sackfield Arena.
- Incorporation of sustainable and energy efficient elements in City building designs and construction.
- The City completes mandatory reporting requirements on annual energy consumption and GHG emissions for its
facilities to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification.
- Reducing single-use plastics at City buildings through the Corporate Single-Use Plastics Reduction Policy.
Page 228
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Recreation Facilities ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.30 to $0.35 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
Backlog
$15.4 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.30 to $0.35 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Recreation
15.4
7.9
+0.30 to 0.35
93.8
9.4
327.7
12.1
Page 229
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Recreation Facilities (All)
Page 230
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Community Centres and Arenas
Facility Condition Index (FCI) over time
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Facility Condition Index ( FCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.30-$0.35 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Unconstrained (All Richmond Hill-owned Facilities)
*The City is proposing to maintain a system-wide average FCI rating of "Good" as its proposed LOS for all facilities
assets. The system-wide FCI projections are juxtaposed in this figure against the service-level FCI forecasts, to illustrate
the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs.
Page 231
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Recreation Equipment
Recreation Equipment Condition Index (RECI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Recreation Equipment Condition Index (RECI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.30 to $0.35 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 232
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
Asset Investment Strategy
Richmond Hill's Recreation and Culture Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy for the evolution of recreation
infrastructure in anticipation of population growth, emerging trends like technology integration and ensuring
recreation opportunities cater to all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. This plan also emphasizes the changing
needs of the community, particularly in relation to the provision of multi-use community hubs, the importance
of high-quality and energy-efficient facility design, and the removal of physical barriers for greater inclusivity.
The Plan includes a number of actionable recommendations over the short term, medium term, and long term
to achieve these by 2031. In parallel, the Asset Management Plan identifies the importance of renewing aging
infrastructure. These foundational documents will guide future service enhancements and inform infrastructure
needs through the City's 10 Year Capital Budgets and Forecasts.
Richmond Hill's Recreation and Culture Plan continues to prioritize modernizing and expanding community
amenities, as reflected in the City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast. The most significant project is the
North Leslie Community Centre, with a total investment of $253 million, which will serve as a major hub for
community activities and recreation. Additional projects include the design phase for a new Indoor Soccer
Facility ($1.3 million), the repurposing of the Richvale Daycare ($0.6 million), air conditioning upgrades at
the Sports Dome ($0.5 million), and the renovation of the McConaghy Centre reception area ($0.4 million).
Together, these projects highlight the City's commitment to enhancing accessible, inclusive, and modern
recreational facilities for all residents.
As noted above, the City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast includes a new proposed North Leslie
Community Centre. If this new community centre is built according to the timing identified in the 10-Year
Capital Budget and Forecast, the estimated operating costs to support the existing recreation facilities as well
as this new facility once operational could increase from around $27 million in 2025 to around $46 million by
2034 in today's dollars (excluding future inflationary pressures).
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
Page 233
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
Proposed Levels of Service for Recreation Facilities assets have been selected to ensure the long-term
sustainability of service provision for these assets.
Note that all facilities within this service propose to maintain their average condition (measured through FCI) at
a value of "Good", which is part of a system-wide facilities LOS that takes into account the average FCI for all
facilities across all service areas. The City proposes to achieve this value from a system-wide perspective, and
as a result, FCIs of individual facilities may vary.
To provide context, the FCI forecast presented for Recreation Facilities was juxtaposed against the system-
wide FCI forecast given an unconstrained funding scenario. This was done to illustrate the potential FCI that
could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs. In practice,
the City will balance its needs across facilities as required to ensure that it maximizes its ability to achieve its
service level targets and minimizes potential risks.
For equipment assets, the City is proposing to maintain its levels of service. Historical spending trends
projected forward would indicate that this is achievable and affordable. The identified increase in funding noted
to achieve proposed service levels would be allocated to both the facility and equipment portfolios and ensure
that service levels remain high.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
As noted above, the City's facilities-based proposed levels of service were established at the portfolio level for
facilities. The financial forecasts generally reveal that for most facilities, financial pressures arise in the near
term before subsiding as spending is increased in the later years of the ramped-up forecast scenario.
At the City, facilities are managed by the City's Facility Management Division, which receives a pool of funding
and has the ability to allocate it across its entire portfolio of facilities, which span across the City's various
service areas. As a result, the City has a mechanism to address short-term needs identified for recreation
facilities by allocating funding as needed in years of high needs. While doing so, in areas where funding cannot
be allocated, the City can explore some options:
- It can accept a lower level of service in the short to medium term for given facilities, recognizing
that these may resolve in the long term. Under this option, the City will prioritize high-risk projects or
facilities and lifecycle activities that do not disrupt the services prioritized to the community. Projects
that are not public facing or not critical can be deemed a lower priority when funding pressures are
higher and can be addressed in the future when pressures are lower. In the case of Recreation
Facilities, several of the assets are public facing. The City ensures that it takes this into account as part
of its decision-making process.
- It can explore ways to allocate additional funding in the near term and then decrease it in the long term
when needs are anticipated to be lower. This need should be balanced against the City's capacity to
deliver projects and available funding.
Page 234
Appendix G: Recreation Facilities | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Future Outlook
Findings and Insights
For recreation equipment, operational equipment and fleet, forecasts indicate that the City can maintain its
levels of service in the short and long term, and that risks will remain low.
Note that facilities replacement costs were developed from a costing source integrated into the City's Facility
Management software. Currently, the City is undergoing a process of evaluating and updating these costs.
Once this evaluation is complete, updated facilities replacement costs will be reflected in future iterations of the
City's AM Plan.
Ed Sackfield Arena
Page 235
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix H
Cultural Services
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
Page 236
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Cultural Services
The City of Richmond Hill offers residents and visitors a variety of arts and cultural experiences.
The City provides these services through the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, and
art and museum amenities and spaces.
Theatre
The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts (RHCPA) is a premier
cultural venue which opened in 2009 and spans over 5,300 square
metres. It is located in the heart of the City's historic downtown, adding
to the cultural liveliness of the community. This venue includes a
performing arts theatre with stages and seating, gallery space, and varied
theatre programming. The RHCPA offers a full season of professional
entertainment, showcasing the rich cultural diversity of Richmond Hill and
celebrating various cultural heritages.
Museum/Heritage Centre
Richmond Hill also provides a museum and heritage centre in the
Amos Wright House. This Regency-style cottage is located within the
Amos Wright Park area of the City and provides space that engages the
community by offering art exhibits, educational programs, and cultural
activities. These events provide an opportunity for residents and visitors
alike to engage with the City's heritage in a meaningful way, fostering a
sense of community and belonging.
Art Gallery
The Mill Street House, also known as the Mill Pond Gallery, is owned by
the City and leased out to a third party. The gallery includes dedicated
spaces for exhibitions and artistic programming, making it a versatile venue
for showcasing art and a dynamic environment that fosters creativity and
collaboration among artists. Mill Pond Gallery also provides inclusive and
accessible educational opportunities to the general community through
regular demonstrations, workshops, and visiting artists along with art
classes in various media for adults and children throughout the year.
Equipment
Richmond Hill's Centre for the Performing Arts (RHCPA) is outfitted with
a wide array of equipment that contributes to the delivery of theatrical
productions, performances and shows. The inventory of equipment
includes electronics, lighting, specialized music equipment, furniture and
an array of miscellaneous equipment which facilitate the production of
various performances. The specialized music equipment, which includes
the grand piano, caters to the musical aspects of productions.
RHCPA
Amos Wright House
Mill Pond Gallery
Page 237
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$51 M
Average Condition
B (Good)
Average Age / ESL
16 / 61 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity Replacement
Value
Theatre
1 ea.
$47.1 M
Museum/Heritage Centre
1 ea.
$1.3 M
Art Gallery
1 ea.
$0.3 M
Equipment
A mix
$1.7 M
Parking Lots and Illumination
4 ea.
$0.9 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
Theatre*
Museum/
Heritage Centre*
Art Gallery*
Equipment
Parking Lots and
Illumination
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
*Age and ESL reflects building components, not facility as a whole
Condition Profile
Very Good
$22.0 M
43%
Good
$8.2 M
16%
Fair
$15.9 M
31%
Poor
$4.4 M
8%
Very Poor
$0.9 M
2%
B
(Good)
Avg. Condition
- The condition of the facilities within Cultural Services is
based on Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) that
were completed in 2022/2023. The findings from these
BCAs are converted into a Corporate Asset Management
condition rating. The City completes BCAs for all City-
owned facilities over a three-year cycle.
- The condition of equipment within Cultural Services is
based on each asset's age/estimated service life, which
varies by the type of equipment.
- The condition of parking lots is based on visual technical
inspections, and the condition of illumination within
parking lots is based on asset age/estimated service life.
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Cultural Facilities:
Building Condition
Assessments
Cultural Equipment:
Age/ESL
Parking Lots: Condition
Assessments and Age/ESL
Very Good
A
>0.8 to 1.0
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>0.6 to 0.8
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>0.4 to 0.6
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>0.2 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
0 to 0.2
>100%
0 to 0.2
Page 238
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: The City offers a variety of accessible arts and cultural
opportunities and experiences to create a vibrant community through the Richmond Hill Centre
for the Performing Arts, art gallery and museum amenities.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
- Build a workforce for tomorrow to ensure that expertise and continuity is in place to
deliver on the City's aspirations for the future.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Apply Climate Change Lens
to Corporate Governance
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Recreation and Culture Plan
- Cultural opportunities for
all
- Community hubs
- Facility Service Levels
- Equitable Access
- Fiscally responsible
planning
Page 239
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Cultural Services
Facilities
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description and map of the Cultural Services facilities located across the municipality.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Cultural Services Facilities
The City of Richmond Hill delivers an array of cultural services and supports the local arts in the community.
The City values cultural diversity and creativity and fosters a place where people can celebrate and appreciate
the arts. Richmond Hill's approach to cultural planning involves inclusive community consultation, aiming to
use local arts and culture to support the development of a vibrant community. The Richmond Hill Centre for the
Performing Arts and the various art and museum spaces and amenities are the primary means by which the
City provides these cultural services to the community. As a result, culture in Richmond Hill is a vibrant tapestry
of arts, heritage, and community activities, reflecting the City's diverse and evolving demographic. The City
is committed to maintaining its cultural facilities to ensure the continued delivery of service to the community.
Additionally, the City will explore opportunities to develop new cultural spaces as well as integrate them into the
renovation and revitalization of existing facilities and parks, based on the Recreation and Culture Plan.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
Number of theatre events offered
City-Defined
266
Tracking for Trends
Scope
Number of theatre tickets sold
City-Defined
64,577
Tracking for Trends
Page 240
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Cultural Services
Facilities
Page 241
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Cultural Services Asset Condition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of Cultural Services assets is measured and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Cultural Services Assets
The City undertakes continual inspections of its Cultural Services facilities and utilizes a computerized
maintenance management system (Maximo) to track and complete maintenance and repairs. The City
also undertakes formal Building Condition Assessments (BCA) on a rotating three-year cycle to assess the
condition of Cultural Services facilities. The BCA results are categorized into a Corporate Asset Management
condition rating to report in this AM Plan and are also used to inform capital renewals.
For other Cultural Services assets, including equipment, the asset's age and estimated service life are used.
These values are converted into a Cultural Equipment Condition Index for reporting and forecasting purposes.
Condition
Category
Condition FCI
Range
Condition Range Description
Very Good
<10%
New building or building that has recently undergone a significant degree of
renewal
Good
10% to <20%
Minimal service interruptions; minor renewals required
Fair
20% to <30%
Intermittent service interruptions; minor/major lifecycle renewals required in the
next five years
Poor
30% to <50%
Some service interruptions; major lifecycle renewals required in the next five years
Very Poor
>50%
Required renewal costs approaching building replacement cost; consideration for
asset replacement or demolition
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Average Cultural Equipment
Condition Index (CECI)
City-Defined
43 (Fair)
Increase
Quality, Reliability
Weighted average FCI of cultural
facilities
City-Defined
0.10 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Reliability
Percentage of cultural equipment
within service life
City-Defined
51%
Increase
Page 242
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Other
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Environmental
Annual hydro consumption (kWh)
per square metre (theatre)
City-Defined
186.1
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual natural gas consumption
(m3) per square metre (theatre)
City-Defined
20.7
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual water use intensity (m3)
per square metre (theatre)
City-Defined
0.6
Tracking for Trends
The City has developed a suite of additional LOS measures for some of its assets, that it utilizes to understand,
monitor and report on various aspects of the service. It expects to expand and enhance these over time as it
continues to improve its LOS framework and performance measures.
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
Page 243
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City makes continuous improvements in operations as well as other asset-related
initiatives.
- Cultural buildings conform to Richmond Hill, Provincial and Federal government policies,
standards and regulations.
- Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) are completed for all City-owned facilities on a three-
year cycle including for Cultural buildings, which were completed in 2022/2023.
Maintenance
- Cultural equipment assets are inspected and receive regular maintenance to ensure they are
functioning as intended. This includes electronic equipment, lighting, and specialized music
equipment.
- Scheduled preventive maintenance actions are planned and executed to manage the City's
Cultural buildings.
- Reactive maintenance on Cultural buildings is also performed as required.
- Richmond Hill uses the Maximo software program to manage the maintenance program of the
City's Cultural facilities.
Rehabilitation
- Some Cultural equipment assets are inspected periodically while other more critically important
equipment assets receive regular inspections as well as annual assessments to ensure they
are functioning as intended (e.g. fly system, orchestra lift, specialized music equipment like the
piano). Based on these, repairs and/or rehabilitations are completed.
- Building assets are highly varied in type and complexity. They include structural, mechanical
and electrical components. The rehabilitation of the various building components of the City's
Cultural facilities are completed as identified through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software
program.
Replacement
- Cultural equipment would typically be replaced at the end of their service life, which varies by
the type of equipment.
- The replacement of the various building components of the City's Cultural facilities are
determined through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program, and completed as required.
Disposal
- Appropriate and proper disposal occurs when assets are replaced or renewed.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- The City's Recreation and Culture Plan recommends service improvements that can lead to the
acquisition of new equipment and/or enhancement of building capacity and amenities.
- AODA compliance remains achieved through Cultural building asset component renewals
considered during rehabilitation and/or replacement.
- Cultural building assets could be considered for replacement to address energy efficiency,
water consumption, and/or technical and regulatory obsolescence.
Page 244
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Theatre Equipment Lifecycle
Replacement -
Electronics and
Lighting System
Replacement -
Specialized
Music
Equipment
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
Rehabilitation (Music Eqpt.)
The lifecycle model for the theatre's electronic and lighting systems forecast that they would typically be replaced at the
end of their service life, which can reach up to 15 years. Other equipment such as specialized music equipment assets
(e.g. piano) are critically important to the functioning of the theatre, and would receive regular ongoing maintenance and
annual formal inspections over their service life (around 50 years). Repairs and/or rehabilitations may be undertaken as
needed depending on the results of the inspections. These assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced
sooner based on usage, function and condition. Given they are interconnected and operate together, groups of equipment
may be bundled together for replacement all at once to realize cost savings and improve service reliability.
Cultural Facilities Lifecycle
Replacement -
Shell
Replacement -
Interiors
Replacement
- Services
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
The Cultural Facilities are composed of a number of different building assets. Structural assets include components like
foundations and above-grade structures, which generally do not require renewal over the life of the building. Building
shell assets (i.e. roof and exterior walls) have an average estimated service life of around 30 years, although some
components, such as metal roofs and window frames, have significantly longer service lives. Service assets (mechanical,
plumbing and electrical) can have a 20 to 45 year service life. Interior assets (i.e. wall, flooring, and ceiling) may last 10
to 40 years depending on the material and level of occupancy/traffic volume of the facility. Once the condition of these
assets has deteriorated to poor/very poor and/or have reached the end of their life, the City's lifecycle model forecasts that
they be replaced. These assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced sooner based on criticality, condition,
and effectiveness of alternative lifecycle treatments like repairs and rehabilitations.
Page 245
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Theatre
- Museum/Heritage
Centre
- Art Gallery
- Equipment
- Parking Lots
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified in
budget, plan or
study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Facility
equipment
and building
component type
and function
- Asset type and
function
- Environmental
compliance
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$24 M
$25 M
$3 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- A 2050 net zero emissions goal for City facilities has been identified and the Corporate Energy Plan will continue
to be implemented.
- Incorporation of sustainable and energy efficient elements in City building designs and construction.
- The City completes mandatory reporting requirements on annual energy consumption and GHG emissions for its
facilities to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification.
- Reducing single-use plastics at City buildings through the Corporate Single-Use Plastics Reduction Policy.
Page 246
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Cultural Services ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$1 M
$2 M
$3 M
$4 M
$5 M
$6 M
$7 M
$8 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.20 to $0.25 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
Backlog
$1.0 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.20 to $0.25 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Culture
1.0
0.1
+0.20 to 0.25
10.9
1.1
81.2
3.0
Page 247
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Cultural Services (All)
Page 248
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Cultural Buildings
Facility Condition Index (FCI) over time
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Facility Condition Index ( FCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.20-$0.25 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Unconstrained (All Richmond Hill-owned Facilities)
*The City is proposing to maintain a system-wide average FCI rating of "Good" as its proposed LOS for all facilities
assets. The system-wide FCI projections are juxtaposed in this figure against the service-level FCI forecasts, to illustrate
the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs.
Page 249
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Cultural Equipment
Cultural Equipment Condition Index (CECI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Cultural Equipment Condition Index (CECI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.20 to $0.25 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 250
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's Recreation and Culture Plan includes strategic directions and actionable recommendations to
create, enhance, and maintain cultural planning and infrastructure such as the Richmond Hill Centre for the
Performing Arts, museums, art galleries, and digital spaces. These embrace best practices, benchmarking
with other municipalities and leveraging emerging trends and opportunities shaping culture. The key
recommendations are related to forming cultural districts, embracing places for cultural tactical urbanism, and
enhancing digital technologies in arts engagement. The 2025 Asset Management Plan also accentuates the
state of good repair investment needs for the City's cultural assets to sustain them in a state of excellence and
relevance. These comprehensive plans will guide future enhancements and ensure the continual rejuvenation
of cultural assets through informing the City's 10 Year Capital Budgets and Forecasts.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0K
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
$250K
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
The proposed growth-related enhancements to Cultural Services, included in the City's 10-Year Capital
Budget and Forecast, are modest but significant. Planned initiatives include the Old Post Office Project ($0.2
million) and a Culture Plan Review ($0.1 million), which aims to identify future opportunities for improving
cultural amenities and services. Additionally, a house lighting conversion project at the RHCPA ($0.1 million)
will enhance the facility's infrastructure. These investments reflect the City's commitment to maintaining and
improving cultural facilities to support community engagement and artistic expression.
The projected operating and maintenance costs to support the existing as well as the modestly planned
growth-related capital expansions for the City's Cultural Services shows stable estimates from 2025 to 2034.
On average, the estimated operating costs are forecast to be in the $11 to $12 million range per year in today's
dollars (excluding future inflationary pressures). With minimal growth capital expansion identified in the City's
10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast, future operating costs are projected to remain steady.
Page 251
Appendix H: Cultural Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
Proposed Levels of Service for Cultural Services assets have been selected to ensure the long-term
sustainability of service provision for these assets.
Note that all facilities within this service propose to maintain their average condition (measured through FCI) at
a value of "Good", which is part of a system-wide facilities LOS that takes into account the average FCI for all
facilities across all service areas. The City proposes to achieve this value from a system-wide perspective, and
as a result, FCIs of individual facilities may vary. To provide context, the FCI forecast presented for Recreation
Facilities was juxtaposed against the system-wide FCI forecast given an unconstrained funding scenario. This
was done to illustrate the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet
all short and long-term needs. In practice, the City will balance its needs across facilities as required to ensure
that it maximizes its ability to achieve its service level targets and minimizes potential risks.
It is important to note that the RHCPA represents the largest value of all assets within this group by a
significant amount, and therefore it is the primary driver of facility performance in the forecasts. The relatively
young age and good condition of this facility is reflected in the forecasts, whereby facility performance remains
good in the next 10 years, even if current funding is projected forwards. Therefore the City expects that
maintaining this level of service in the near-term is both affordable and achievable.
For equipment, forecasts indicate that the City can improve its levels of service in the long term under current
and proposed funding scenarios.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
At the City, facilities are managed by the City's Facility Management Division, which receives a pool of funding
and has the ability to allocate it across its entire portfolio of facilities, which span across the City's various
service areas. The analysis completed in this AM Plan has illustrated that the RHCPA has less renewal
pressures in the short term, which are expected to increase in the long term. From the overall facility-based
analysis in this AM Plan, generally the majority of other facilities have identified short-term needs, which
require additional funding in the near term and subside in the long term. This situation benefits the RHCPA,
since it will require funding in the medium to long term instead.
It should be noted that as the RHCPA ages, City professionals have noticed that the facility is experiencing
much higher demand and attendance relative to initial projections. The City has noticed that some assets in
the theatre could be in need of refurbishment or replacement earlier than anticipated due to the usage of the
facility. This represents a potential risk that will be monitored over time. Overall, the City can mitigate risks
by balancing funding with asset performance, to ensure that projected service levels are achievable and
affordable for its Cultural Services facilities.
Note that facilities replacement costs were developed from a costing source integrated into the City's Facilities
Management software. Currently, the City is undergoing a process of evaluating and updating these costs.
Once this evaluation is complete, updated facilities replacement costs will be reflected in future iterations of the
City's AM Plan.
Page 252
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix I
Libraries
Central Library
Page 253
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Libraries
The Richmond Hill Public Library assets include four library facilities, library collections and a
mixture of equipment.
Library Facilities
The Richmond Hill Public Library system includes four unique libraries that
provide over 13,000 square metres of amenities for the community to enjoy.
The City's flagship Central Library spans nearly 10,000 square metres,
making it the largest of the City's Library facilities. The other three libraries
are the Oak Ridges Library, Richmond Green Library and Richvale Library.
These libraries offer residents access to an expansive set of collections
(e.g. books and other resources), as well as a variety of services, programs
and physical spaces that provide knowledge, experiences and resources
for the community. Each facility is designed to cater to the diverse needs of
its patrons, from quiet study areas to interactive learning spaces.
Library Equipment
Library equipment is located in the City's libraries, which provide dynamic,
inclusive, and technologically equipped spaces. Library equipment includes
furniture, fixtures and other equipment which significantly contribute to the
overall functionality and user-friendliness of the library facilities. Furniture
and fixtures include various types of seating, shelving, and tables that
provide the physical assets to have a comfortable library experience.
Other equipment encompasses a wide range of assets such as book
sorters, digital kiosks, printers, wireless network infrastructure, and server
equipment to ensure that the libraries stay connected and technologically
adept.
Library Collections
Collections are the cornerstone of the City's libraries. Composed of a
diverse array of materials, these resources are integral to the library's role
as a centre of knowledge, experience and community engagement. The
collections include print materials like books, newspapers, magazines
and atlases; audiovisual materials like CDs and DVDs; STEAM Kits for
children consisting of coding, robotic and engineering toys and technology;
and a wide range of Library of Things items, from sewing machines to
Wi-fi hotspots. Richmond Hill's Library collections are dynamic and ever-
evolving to ensure the relevance and responsiveness to the changing
interests and needs of the community.
Central Library
Richmond Green Library
Richmond Green Library
Page 254
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$101 M
Average Condition
B (Good)
Average Age / ESL
22 / 46 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity Replacement
Value
Library Facilities
4 ea.
$78.5 M
Library Equipment
A mix
$10.9 M
Library Collections
A mix
$9.6 M
Parking Lots and Illumination
4 ea.
$2.2 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
Parking Lots and
Illumination
Library Equipment and
Collections
Library Facilities*
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
*Age and ESL reflects building components, not facility as a whole
Condition Profile
Very Good
$16.3 M
16%
Good
$34.5 M
34%
Fair
$22.5 M
22%
Poor
$22.1 M
22%
Very Poor
$5.8 M
6%
B
(Good)
Avg. Condition
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
- The condition of library facilities is based on Building
Condition Assessments (BCAs) completed in 2022/2023.
The assessment results from these BCAs are converted
into a Corporate Asset Management condition rating. The
City completes BCAs for all City-owned facilities over a
three-year cycle.
- For the libraries' physical collections, condition is based
on age/estimated service life.
- The condition of library equipment is based on its age/
estimated service life, which varies by type of equipment.
- The condition of parking lots is based on visual technical
inspections, and the condition of the associated
illumination is based on age/estimated service life.
Condition
Category
Letter Grade
Library Facilities:
Building Condition
Assessments
Library Equipment and
Collections:
Age/ESL
Parking Lots:
Condition Assessments and
Age/ESL
Very Good
A
>0.8 to 1.0
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>0.6 to 0.8
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>0.4 to 0.6
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>0.2 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
0 to 0.2
>100%
0 to 0.2
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Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: Richmond Hill's Public Library system provides knowledge,
experiences and resources that enable the community to grow capabilities to respond to
personal, local, national, and global trends and interests.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
- Build a workforce for tomorrow to ensure that expertise and continuity is in place to
deliver on the City's aspirations for the future.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Apply Climate Change Lens
to Corporate Governance
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Library Strategic Plan (2021-2025)
- Inspiring experiences
- Digital experiences
- Customer-focused content
- Innovation
- IT advancement
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Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Libraries
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description and map of Libraries located across the municipality.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Libraries
Richmond Hill's Public Library system provides gathering places for the community to learn, connect and
collaborate through innovative services and programs. The Library system strives to service the unique needs
of customers and fosters an atmosphere where knowledge and creativity flourish, and the community can
stay informed and engaged. The City's libraries provide universal access to informational resources through
its four buildings and a strong digital presence. An extensive and wide array of physical and digital collections
and online resources are available to the community. The City plans to expand and enhance the library system
through the construction of new branches in emerging intensification areas, as well as the revitalization of
existing branches as detailed in the RHPL Facilities Master Plan.
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Scope
In-person visits
City-Defined
700,000+
Tracking for Trends
Scope
Number of Active Cardholders
City-Defined
55,000+
Tracking for Trends
Scope
Amount of collections circulated
(physical and digital)
City-Defined
1.7 million
Tracking for Trends
Scope
Amount of library space per
capita (sq.ft/capita)
City-Defined
0.57
Increase in
alignment with
RHPL Facilities
Master Plan
Page 257
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Libraries
Page 258
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Libraries Asset Condition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of Libraries assets is measured and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Libraries
The City undertakes continual inspections of its Library facilities and utilizes a computerized maintenance
management system (Maximo) to track and complete maintenance and repairs. The City also undertakes
formal Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) on a rotating three-year cycle to assess the condition of Library
facilities. The BCA results are categorized into a Corporate Asset Management condition rating to report in this
AM Plan and are also used to inform capital renewals.
For other Libraries assets, including equipment and collection, the asset's age and estimated service life are
used. These values are converted into a Libraries Equipment and Collection Condition Index for reporting and
forecasting purposes.
Condition
Category
Condition FCI
Range
Condition Range Description
Very Good
<10%
New building or building that has recently undergone a significant degree of
renewal
Good
10% to <20%
Minimal service interruptions; minor renewals required
Fair
20% to <30%
Intermittent service interruptions; minor/major lifecycle renewals required in the
next five years
Poor
30% to <50%
Some service interruptions; major lifecycle renewals required in the next five years
Very Poor
>50%
Required renewal costs approaching building replacement cost; consideration for
asset replacement or demolition
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Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Libraries Asset Condition
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Library Equipment and
Collections Condition Index
(LECCI)
City-Defined
48 (Fair)
Increase
Quality, Reliability
Weighted average FCI of libraries City-Defined
0.16 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Reliability
Percentage of library equipment
and collections within service life
City-Defined
81%
Maintain
(above 80%)
Richmond Green Library
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Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Other
Technical Levels of Service
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Environmental
Annual hydro consumption (kWh)
per square metre (libraries)
City-Defined
153.8
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual natural gas consumption
(m3) per square metre (libraries)
City-Defined
12.2
Tracking for Trends
Environmental
Annual water use intensity (m3)
per square metre (libraries)
City-Defined
0.8
Tracking for Trends
The City has developed a suite of additional LOS measures for some of its assets, that it utilizes to understand,
monitor and report on various aspects of the service. It expects to expand and enhance these over time as it
continues to improve its LOS framework and performance measures.
Richvale Library
Page 261
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City makes continuous improvements in operations as well as other asset-related initiatives
(e.g. collections policy).
- Library buildings conform to Richmond Hill, Provincial and Federal government policies,
standards and regulations.
- Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) are completed for all City-owned facilities, including
Libraries, on a three-year cycle, and were completed last in 2022/2023.
Maintenance
- Scheduled preventive and reactive maintenance actions are completed for Libraries as
required.
- Richmond Hill uses the Maximo software program to manage the maintenance of the City's
Library facilities.
Rehabilitation
- Building assets are highly varied in type and complexity. They include structural, mechanical
and electrical components. The rehabilitation of the various Library building components are
completed as identified through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program.
Replacement
- Library equipment assets would typically be replaced at the end of their service life, which
varies by the type of equipment.
- The Library's physical collections would typically be replenished at the end of their seven-year
service life based on the City's Tangible Capital Asset Policy.
- Similar to rehabilitation, the replacement of the various building components of the City's Library
facilities are determined through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program and completed as
required.
Disposal
- Appropriate and proper disposal occurs when assets are replaced or renewed.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- The Library strategic and master plans recommend service enhancements that can lead to the
acquisition of new equipment and physical collections as well as expansion of building capacity
and amenities.
- AODA compliance remains achieved through Library building asset component renewals
considered during rehabilitation and/or replacement.
- Library building assets could be considered for replacement to address energy efficiency, water
consumption, and/or technical and regulatory obsolescence.
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Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Library Equipment and Collections Lifecycle
Replacement -
Collections
Replacement -
Equipment
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
The City's lifecycle model for Library equipment forecasts that assets will be replaced at the end of their service life.
However, these assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced sooner based on usage, function and condition.
Library equipment includes a variety of different types of IT related assets, furniture and shelving, and other smaller
miscellaneous assets. The estimated service lives vary by the type of equipment. For the Library's physical collections,
the City's lifecycle model forecasts that they should be replenished at the end of their seven-year service life based on
the City's Tangible Capital Asset Policy. However, these assets may be replaced sooner or kept in circulation longer
depending on demand and their condition and function.
Library Facilities Lifecycle
Replacement -
Shell
Replacement -
Interiors
Replacement
- Services
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
The Library Facilities are composed of a number of different building assets. Structural assets include components like
foundations and above-grade structures, which generally do not require renewal over the life of the building. Building
shell assets (i.e. roof and exterior walls) have an average estimated service life of around 30 years, although some
components, such as metal roofs and window frames, have significantly longer service lives. Service assets (mechanical,
plumbing and electrical) can have a 20 to 45 year service life. Interior assets (i.e. wall, flooring, and ceiling) may last 10
to 40 years depending on the material and level of occupancy/traffic volume of the facility. Once the condition of these
assets has deteriorated to poor/very poor and/or have reached the end of their life, the City's lifecycle model forecasts
they would typically be replaced. These assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced sooner based on
criticality, condition, and effectiveness of alternative lifecycle treatments like repairs and rehabilitations.
Page 263
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Library Facilities
- Equipment
- Collections
- Parking Lots
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current
capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified
in budget, plan
or study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating cost/
revenue
- Facility building
component type
and function,
- Asset type and
function
- Environmental
compliance
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$20 M
$61 M
$20 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
$60 M
$70 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- A 2050 net zero emissions goal for City facilities has been identified and the Corporate Energy Plan will continue
to be implemented.
- Incorporation of sustainable and energy efficient elements in City building designs and construction.
- The City completes mandatory reporting requirements on annual energy consumption and GHG emissions for its
facilities to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification.
- Reducing single-use plastics at City buildings through the Corporate Single-Use Plastics Reduction Policy.
Page 264
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Libraries ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
$14 M
$16 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.13 to $0.15 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
Backlog
$10.2 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.13 to $0.15 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Libraries
10.2
2.5
+0.13 to 0.15
31.2
3.1
116.4
4.3
Page 265
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Libraries (All)
Page 266
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Library Buildings
Facility Condition Index (FCI) over time
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Facility Condition Index ( FCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.13 to $0.15 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Unconstrained (All Richmond Hill-owned Facilities)
*The City is proposing to maintain a system-wide average FCI rating of "Good" as its proposed LOS for all facilities
assets. The system-wide FCI projections are juxtaposed in this figure against the service-level FCI forecasts, to illustrate
the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs.
Page 267
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Library Equipment and Collections
Library Equipment and Collections Condition Index (LECCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Library Equipment and Collections
Condition Index (LECCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.13 to $0.15 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 268
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The Richmond Hill Public Library 2021-2025 Strategic Plan provides a guiding purpose, vision and mission for
the City's library system. The Plan focuses on growth and enhancement opportunities while ensuring continued
excellence in operations. The Plan includes nine priorities and 32 strategies to achieve them. This strategic
plan, along with the 2025 Asset Management Plan, will inform the future growth and maintenance of existing
asset capital investments for the Richmond Hill Public Library system.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$5 M
$10 M
$15 M
$20 M
$25 M
$30 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
The Richmond Hill Public Library system is poised for growth and modernization, supported by the Library
Strategic Plan and RHPL Facilities Master Plan. The 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast allocates $46
million for master plan-based expansions of library facilities, ensuring enhanced access and services for the
community. Additional investments include $4.0 million for content development growth, enabling the expansion
of library materials to meet diverse community needs.
Other notable projects include $2.5 million for furniture and non-computer equipment upgrades, a Library
Master Plan Feasibility Study ($0.4 million), and the Bird-Safe Retrofit Pilot Project at the Central Branch ($0.3
million). Smaller but impactful initiatives, such as enhancements to the children's area and the creation of
collaborative study spaces, further demonstrate the City's commitment to delivering innovative and accessible
library services for all residents.
As noted above, the City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast includes a provision to expand Richmond
Hill's Public Libraries. If these library facility expansions were to occur as identified in the 10-Year Capital
Budget and Forecast, the estimated operating costs to support the existing amenities as well as these growth
expansions once they are operational could increase from around $13 million in 2025 up to around $19 million
by 2034 in today's dollars (excluding future inflationary pressures).
Page 269
Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
Proposed Levels of Service for libraries facilities and assets have been selected to ensure the long-term
sustainability of service provision for the Libraries service.
Note that Library facilities propose to maintain their average condition (measured through FCI) at a value of
"Good", which is part of a system-wide facilities LOS that takes into account the average FCI for all facilities
across all service areas. The City proposes to achieve this value from a system-wide perspective, and as a
result, FCIs of individual facilities may vary. To provide context, the FCI forecast presented for Libraries was
juxtaposed against the system-wide FCI forecast given an unconstrained funding scenario. This was done
to illustrate the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short
and long-term needs. In practice, the City will balance its needs across facilities as required to ensure that it
maximizes its ability to achieve its service level targets and minimizes potential risks.
Furthermore, the City proposes to maintain its reliability-based service levels related to collections and
equipment, which are already at a high level (81% within service life). This reflects the way that the current
libraries equipment and collections have been managed to date to ensure that amenities within the buildings
remain functional and available for library users.
Maintaining these levels of service represents a continuation of the same levels of service that the City is
currently providing to the community, which the City has deemed to be achievable.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
As noted above, the City's facilities-based proposed levels of service were established at the portfolio level for
facilities. The financial forecasts generally reveal that for most facilities, financial pressures arise in the near
term before subsiding as spending is increased in the later years of the ramped-up forecast scenario.
At the City, facilities are managed by the City's Facility Management Division, which receives a pool of funding
and has the ability to allocate it across its entire portfolio of facilities, which span across the City's various
service areas. As a result, the City has a mechanism to address short-term needs identified for library facilities
by allocating funding as needed in years of high needs. While doing so, in areas where funding cannot be
allocated, the City can explore some options:
-
It can accept a lower level of service in the short to medium term for given facilities, recognizing
that these may resolve in the long term. Under this option, the City will prioritize high-risk projects or
facilities and lifecycle activities that do not disrupt the services prioritized to the community. Projects
that are not public facing or not critical can be deemed a lower priority when funding pressures are
higher and can be addressed in the future when pressures are lower.
-
It can explore ways to allocate additional funding in the near term and then decrease it in the long term
when needs are anticipated to be lower. This need should be balanced against the City's capacity to
deliver projects and available funding.
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Appendix I: Libraries | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Future Outlook
Findings and Insights
With respect to libraries equipment and collections, forecasts reveal that service levels could decline in the
near term before improving towards the end of the forecast period. This aligns with recent observations and
historical analysis that indicates that funding and associated spending has declined in recent years for libraries
equipment/collections. Furthermore, the AM analysis completed for this AM Plan considered the facilities and
equipment/collections under a single forecast/spending funding analysis. Therefore higher priority facilities may
require more funding to meet needs in the near term.
If funding is not available for library equipment and collections, the City may need to extend the use of these
assets beyond their expected service lives. In some cases, this could lead to obsolete or non-functional items
being removed from service, potentially impacting availability and quality. While these assets are generally
considered low risk in terms of operational and safety concerns, their continued use past their intended
lifespan may affect the user experience. The City remains committed to replacing library assets as needed, but
any delays in updates or replacements could lead to a gradual decline in service quality over time.
Note that facilities replacement costs were developed from a costing source integrated into the City's Facilities
Management software. Currently, the City is undergoing a process of evaluating and updating these costs.
Once this evaluation is complete, updated facilities replacement costs will be reflected in future iterations of the
City's AM Plan.
Richmond Green Library
Page 271
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix J
Protection Services
Richmond Hill Fire Station 8-6
Page 272
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Protection Services
Fire and Emergency Services assets include six fire stations, fire and rescue fleet and a
mixture of equipment, which support the community through education, training prevention and
emergency response.
Fire Stations
The City of Richmond Hill's Fire and Emergency Services are delivered
through six fire stations that are strategically located across the municipality
to optimize response times and coverage. These stations effectively
meet the unique fire, emergency response and protection needs of the
community. The six stations include Fire Station #8-1 (Major Mackenzie),
Fire Station #8-2 (Oak Ridges), Fire Station #8-3 (16th Avenue), Fire
Station #8-4 (Elgin Mills), Fire Station #8-5 (Bayview Glen), and Fire
Station #8-6 (Gamble Road). Each station is staffed with a dedicated team
of firefighters ensuring readiness and rapid response to emergencies. The
fire stations accommodate a range of functions, from housing firefighting
vehicles and equipment to providing living quarters for the firefighters. The
stations are equipped with modern facilities and technologies to support
the demanding nature of firefighting and rescue operations.
Fire Fleet
Richmond Hill's fire fleet is a critical part of the City's fire and emergency
response capabilities and includes a diverse array of vehicles to meet
various firefighting and rescue needs. The fleet includes approximately
43 vehicles and is comprised of major fire and rescue vehicles and light
duty support vehicles. The major fire and rescue vehicles include fire
rescue engines, aerial rescue devices, rescue vehicles, mobile water
supply tankers and a mobile command centre. The light duty support
vehicles include pickup trucks, SUVs, vans and trailers that support major
firefighting and emergency response services, as well as fire prevention,
public education and training.
Fire Equipment
The City's Fire and Emergency Services has a wide range of critically
important equipment that are used by firefighters to provide firefighting and
emergency response services to the community. The equipment employed
includes:
-
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including bunker gear,
breathing apparatus, masks, and facepieces;
-
Firefighting equipment including hoses and nozzles;
-
Rescue equipment including air monitoring systems, auto extrication
tools, technical rescue equipment and defibrillators;
-
Communication assets including radio systems; and,
-
Training equipment including training tower equipment.
Fire Station 8-4 (Russell "Curly" Lynett)
Page 273
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$57 M
Average Condition
B (Good)
Average Age / ESL
15 / 32 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity
Replacement
Value
Fire Stations
6 ea.
$22.4 M
Fire Fleet
43 ea.
$33.2 M
Fire Equipment
A mix
Parking Lots and Illumination
6 ea.
$0.9 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
Parking Lots and
Illumination
Fire Fleet and
Equipment
Fire Stations*
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
*Age and ESL reflects building components, not facility as a whole
Condition Profile
Very Good
$11.1 M
20%
Good
$17.2 M
30%
Fair
$17.0 M
30%
Poor
$8.6 M
15%
Very Poor
$2.7 M
5%
B
(Good)
Avg. Condition
- The condition of fire stations is based on Building
Condition Assessments (BCAs) completed in 2022/2023.
The assessment results from these BCAs are converted
into a Corporate Asset Management condition rating. The
City completes BCAs for all City-owned facilities over a
three- year cycle.
- The condition of fire fleet is based on age/estimated
service life. Fire fleet includes major fire and rescue
vehicles and apparatus, along with supporting vehicles,
which have different estimated service lives based on
standards and guidelines.
- The condition of fire equipment is based on age/
estimated service life, which varies by type of equipment.
Standards and guidelines also establish service lives for
these assets.
- The condition of parking lots is based on visual technical
inspections, and the condition of the associated
illumination is based on age/estimated service life.
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Fire Stations:
Building Condition
Assessments
Fire Fleet:
Age/ESL
Fire Equipment:
Age/ESL
Parking Lots: Condition
Assessments and Age/
ESL
Very Good
A
>0.8 to 1.0
0% to 25%
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>0.6 to 0.8
>25% to 50%
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>0.4 to 0.6
>50% to 75%
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>0.2 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
0 to 0.2
>100%
>100%
0 to 0.2
Page 274
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: The City of Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services protects
the lives and property of the community through excellence in prevention, education, training
and emergency response.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Manage growth in a way that enables choice and connection for the City, its residents
and businesses now and in the future.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
- Build a workforce for tomorrow to ensure that expertise and continuity is in place to
deliver on the City's aspirations for the future.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Formalize Community Risk
Mitigation
- Leverage Green
Infrastructure
- Foster Engagement and
Innovation
Fire Master Plan (2021)
- Emergency Response
- Education
- Risk Assessment
- Inspections and
Enforcement
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Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Fire Stations
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description and map of fire stations located across the municipality.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Fire Stations
Richmond Hill Fire and Emergency Services provides fire protection and emergency response from six
strategically placed stations within the community, along with a fleet of major fire and rescue vehicles and
a team of firefighters. Emergency responses span from fire outbreaks to medical assistance, vehicular
accidents, technical rescues, and more. There is also a focus on fire prevention and education, and evaluating
and identifying present and foreseeable community fire risks. Servicing the unique emergency needs of an
urbanized community and the varying nature and volumes of calls while complying with statutory guidelines
and requirements are top priorities for the City's Fire and Emergency Services. As Richmond Hill experiences
further intensification, the City will continue to prioritize the protection of the community by exploring upgrades
to existing fire stations as well as the construction of new fire stations to accommodate projected growth in
population and employment. This includes the construction of a new fire station 8-7, which was identified in the
Fire Master Plan. These enhancements will be complemented by fleet expansions, additional personnel, and
other service improvements to meet the needs of the growing population.
Fire Station 8-3 (Harold J. Mills)
Page 276
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Fire Stations
Page 277
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Protection Services Asset Condition
Condition
Category
Condition FCI
Range
Condition Range Description
Very Good
<10%
New building or building that has recently undergone a significant degree of
renewal
Good
10% to <20%
Minimal service interruptions; minor renewals required
Fair
20% to <30%
Intermittent service interruptions; minor/major lifecycle renewals required in the
next five years
Poor
30% to <50%
Some service interruptions; major lifecycle renewals required in the next five years
Very Poor
>50%
Required renewal costs approaching building replacement cost; consideration for
asset replacement or demolition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of fire services assets is measured and reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Fire services assets
The City undertakes continual inspections of its Fire Stations and utilizes a computerized maintenance
management system (Maximo) to track and complete maintenance and repairs. The City also undertakes
formal Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) on a rotating three-year cycle to assess the condition of Fire
Stations. The BCA results are categorized into a Corporate Asset Management condition rating to report in this
AM Plan and are also used to inform capital renewals.
For other administration services assets, fire fleet and equipment, the assets age and service life are used.
Frontline fire fleet asset are also converted into a Fire Fleet (Frontline) Condition Index for reporting and
forecasting purposes.
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Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Protection Services Asset Condition
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
Fire Fleet (Frontline) Condition
Index (FFCI)
City-Defined
64 (Good)
Maintain
Quality, Reliability
Weighted average FCI of fire
stations
City-Defined
0.19 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Reliability
Percentage of major (frontline)
fire and rescue apparatus within
estimated service life
City-Defined
100%
Maintain at 100%
Reliability
Average age (years) of major
(frontline) fire and rescue
apparatus
City-Defined
7 (ESL=15)
Maintain
Reliability
Percentage of all fire equipment
within estimated service life
City-Defined
92%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Reliability
Percentage of PPE within
estimated service life
City-Defined
100%
Maintain at 100%
Reliability
Percentage of fire fleet and
equipment within estimated
service life
City-Defined
94%
Maintain
(+/- 5% range)
Technical Levels of Service
Page 279
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activities
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City's Fire and Emergency Services makes continuous improvements in operations as well
as other asset-related initiatives (e.g. Firehouse software upgrade)
- Fire fleet, equipment and stations conform to Richmond Hill, Provincial and Federal government
policies, standards, statutes and regulations.
- Building Condition Assessments (BCA) are completed for all City-owned facilities on a three-
year cycle including for fire stations, which were completed last in 2023.
Maintenance
- Fire fleet and equipment are cleaned, service tested, repaired and maintained per standards
and guidelines.
- Scheduled preventive and reactive maintenance actions are completed on fire stations as
required.
- Richmond Hill uses the Maximo software program to manage the City's fire stations.
Rehabilitation
- Fire fleet and equipment may be rehabilitated but are more commonly replaced at the end of
their service life.
- Fire station building components are highly varied in type and complexity. They include
structural, mechanical, and electrical components. The rehabilitation of the various Fire Station
building components are completed as identified through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software
program.
Replacement
- The Fire administration implemented lifecycle strategies for fleet and equipment in line with the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards.
- Fire fleet and equipment should be replaced at the end of their service life based on these
standards, recommendations and guidelines. Fire fleet may also see their service role change
through their Lifecycle.
- Similar to rehabilitation, the replacement of the fire stations' various building components is
determined through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program, and completed as required.
Disposal
- Appropriate and proper disposal occurs when assets are replaced or renewed.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- The Fire Master Plan recommends a number of enhancements based on servicing growth and
regulatory requirements. The acquisition of new fleet, equipment and expansions of building
capacity and amenities will be required over time.
- Fire station assets could be considered for replacement to address energy efficiency, water
consumption, and/or technical and regulatory obsolescence.
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Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
Fire Fleet and Equipment Lifecycle
Replacement -
Equipment
Replacement -
Fleet
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Interventions
Maintenance and Repairs
The City's lifecycle model for fire fleet forecasts they should be replaced at the end of their service life. The fire fleet
includes major fire and rescue vehicles and apparatus (15 year service life), along with supporting vehicles (7 year service
life). For fire equipment, the City's lifecycle model forecasts they should be replaced at the end of their service life, which
varies by type of equipment such as rescue, firefighting, personal protective and communication equipment. The service
lives of fleet and critically important equipment are established from standards, guidelines and recommendations (e.g. 7 to
10 year service life for bunker gear). These assets may be kept in service longer with a reduced role (e.g. spare function)
or could be replaced sooner based on operational needs, function and condition.
Fire Station Facilities Lifecycle
Replacement -
Shell
Replacement -
Interiors
Replacement
- Services
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
The Fire Stations are composed of a number of different building assets. Structural assets include components like
foundations and above-grade structures, which generally do not require renewal over the life of the building. Building
shell assets (i.e. roof and exterior walls) have an average estimated service life of around 30 years, although some
components, such as metal roofs and window frames, have significantly longer service lives. Service assets (mechanical,
plumbing and electrical) can have a 20 to 45 year service life. Interior assets (i.e. wall, flooring, and ceiling) may last 10
to 40 years depending on the material and level of occupancy/traffic volume of the facility. Once the condition of these
assets has deteriorated to poor/very poor and/or have reached the end of their life, the City's lifecycle model forecasts
they would typically be replaced. These assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced sooner based on
criticality, condition, and effectiveness of alternative lifecycle treatments like repairs and rehabilitations.
Page 281
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Fire Stations
(Facilities)
- Fire Fleet
- Fire Equipment
- Parking Lots
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified in
budget, plan or
study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Facility building
component type and
function
- Fleet and equipment
asset type and
function
- Environmental
compliance
- Asset type
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$12 M
$31 M
$14 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- A 2050 net zero emissions goal for City facilities has been identified and the Corporate Energy Plan will continue
to be implemented.
- Incorporation of sustainable and energy efficient elements in City building designs and construction.
- The City completes mandatory reporting requirements on annual energy consumption and GHG emissions for its
facilities to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification.
- Reducing single-use plastics at City buildings through the Corporate Single-Use Plastics Reduction Policy.
- Monitoring the feasibility of replacing diesel-powered fire fleet vehicles with electric.
- Switched to eco-friendly firefighting foam.
Page 282
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Protection Services ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-24 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.05 to $0.07 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
$2.0 M for fire services
Backlog
$4.2 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.05 to $0.07 M/yr
*$2.0 M for Protection Services to align with historical average spending for this service area would be required annually.
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Protection*
4.2
0.4
+0.05 to 0.07
24.8
2.5
84.2
3.1
Page 283
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Protection Services (All)
Page 284
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Fire Stations
Facility Condition Index (FCI) over time
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Facility Condition Index ( FCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-24 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.05 to $0.07 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Unconstrained (All Richmond Hill-owned Facilities)
*The City is proposing to maintain a system-wide average FCI rating of "Good" as its proposed LOS for all facilities
assets. The system-wide FCI projections are juxtaposed in this figure against the service-level FCI forecasts, to illustrate
the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs.
Page 285
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Frontline Fire Fleet
Frontline Fire Fleet Condition Index (FFCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Frontline Fire Fleet Condition Index (FFCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-24 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.05 to $0.07 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 286
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
All Fire Fleet
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Fire Equipment
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 287
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
The City's 2021 Fire Master Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to meet future community needs arising
from population growth, intensified urban development, an anticipated increase in call volumes and types,
evolving statutory standards, and an expanding focus on all types of emergencies. This strategy includes 46
short (1-3 year), medium (4-6 year), and long-term (7-10 year) recommendations to enhance fleet, equipment,
response times, resources, staffing and stations. The synergy of the Fire Master Plan along with future Asset
Management Plans will be instrumental in guiding asset investments within the City's 10-Year Capital Budgets
and Forecasts.
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
$0 M
$10 M
$20 M
$30 M
$40 M
$50 M
$60 M
$70 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
Richmond Hill's Fire and Emergency Services are set for significant enhancements over the next 10 years,
as outlined in the City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast, guided by the Fire Master Plan. The primary
investment is the construction of the new Station 8-7, with a total budget of $9.6 million, complemented by
the procurement of new fire engines and various equipment for the station totaling $4.6 million. Additionally,
the enhancement of the Fire Regional Training Centre ($3.6 million) will ensure advanced firefighter training
and skills development, and the budget allocation of $0.3 million for the Fire Master Plan Update will provide
direction for future service improvements. These initiatives reflect a comprehensive approach to bolstering the
City's firefighting infrastructure and emergency response capabilities.
The estimated operating costs to support the existing and future growth-related expansions for the City's Fire
and Emergency Services Division could increase from around $36 million in 2025 to approximately $48 million
by 2034 in today's dollars (excluding future inflationary pressures). This forecasted increase in operating costs
is due to supporting the operating requirements for the potential new Fire Station identified to be built by 2028,
along with the new fleet and enhancements to the Fire Regional Training Centre. If these are constructed
as planned in the City 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast, there will be a steady growth in the estimated
operating costs to support these capital expansions.
Page 288
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
Proposed Levels of Service for fire services assets have been selected to ensure the long-term sustainability
of service provision for these assets. Many of these assets provide critical emergency response functions, and
therefore must be kept to certain standards, some of which are regulated.
Note that all facilities within this service propose to maintain their average condition (measured through FCI) at
a value of "Good", which is part of a system-wide facilities LOS that takes into account the average FCI for all
facilities across all service areas. The City proposes to achieve this value from a system-wide perspective, and
as a result, FCIs of individual facilities may vary. To provide context, the FCI forecast presented for Protection
Services was juxtaposed against the system-wide FCI forecast given an unconstrained funding scenario. This
was done to illustrate the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet
all short and long-term needs. In practice, the City will balance its needs across facilities as required to ensure
that it maximizes its ability to achieve its service level targets and minimizes potential risks.
Furthermore, the reliability metrics for fleet and equipment assets are generally high, and the City is proposing
to maintain this value. It is also proposing to maintain the percentage of critical PPE and frontline fire and
rescue apparatus within service life at 100%.
Historic spending trends, when projected forward, indicate a minimal additional investment would be required
to achieve the City's levels of service targets to 2051.
The phased-in approach to increasing spending in the forecasts was established to illustrate a methodology
that attempts to gradually increase spending to ensure that affordability is considered when balancing out risks
and service levels in the long term.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
As noted above, the City's facilities-based proposed levels of service were established at the portfolio level for
facilities. The financial forecasts generally reveal that for most facilities, financial pressures arise in the near
term before subsiding as spending is increased in the later years of the ramped-up forecast scenario.
At the City, facilities are managed by the City's Facility Management Division, which receives a pool of funding
and has the ability to allocate it across its entire portfolio of facilities, which span across the City's various
service areas. As a result, the City has a mechanism to address short-term needs identified for recreation
facilities by allocating money as needed in years of high needs. While doing so, in areas where funding cannot
be allocated, the City can explore some options:
-
It can accept a lower level of service in the short to medium term for given facilities, recognizing
that these may resolve in the long term. Under this option, the City will prioritize high-risk projects or
facilities and lifecycle activities that do not disrupt the services prioritized to the community. Projects
that are not public facing or not critical can be deemed a lower priority when funding pressures are
higher and can be addressed in the future when pressures are lower.
Page 289
Appendix J: Protection Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Future Outlook
Findings and Insights
-
It can explore ways to allocate additional funding in the near term and then decrease it in the long term
when needs are anticipated to be lower. This need should be balanced against the City's capacity to
deliver projects and available funding.
Frontline fleet and equipment assets should be able to maintain service levels to 100% of assets within service
life given only a minimal additional investment above current spending trends. These assets are critical to the
emergency response service, and many of them (such as PPE) must be replaced on an established cycle as
per regulations. Therefore, the City has identified that keeping these service levels high is both achievable and
affordable, as it is necessary to ensure reliability of the Fire Division's ability to respond to emergencies.
Note that facilities replacement costs were developed from a costing source integrated into the City's Facilities
Management software. Currently, the City is undergoing a process of evaluating and updating these costs.
Once this evaluation is complete, updated facilities replacement costs will be reflected in future iterations of the
City's AM Plan.
Fire Station 8-5 (Bert Cook)
Page 290
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Appendix K
Administration Services
Main Municipal Offices
Page 291
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Administration Services
The City of Richmond Hill owns and operates two primary municipal buildings, as well as eight
smaller facilities which support civic administration in the provision of services to the community.
Other supporting assets, like fleet and equipment, are critical to provide services to residents.
Office Buildings
Richmond Hill's office buildings provide over 29,400 square metres of
area that serves as the backbone of the City's administrative, governance
and operational functions. The Richmond Hill Main Municipal Offices,
located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road, is a central hub for the City's
administrative activities and provides workspace for City employees,
public access to services, a meeting place for City Council and a venue for
public consultations. The Richmond Hill Operations Centre site situated at
1200 Elgin Mills Road East provides a workspace for employees including
operations staff. The site includes four buildings: the Main Building, the
Truck Wash Building, the Salt Shed, and the Fire Training Building. The
Main Building is where the City's operational services are coordinated and
delivered from. The Truck Wash Building is crucial for the daily operations
of various municipal fleet requirements. The Salt Shed plays a vital role in
the City's winter road maintenance program. The Fire Training Building is
a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the training of the City's fire services
personnel.
Other Buildings
Other buildings within the Administration Services portfolio include eight
unique facilities that are each used for different purposes. These buildings
provide an assortment of City administration support, storage capacity,
and administration space for utilization. Some examples of these facilities
include the Barn and Fair Storage buildings that are part of the Richmond
Green Complex, the Connor Building and the Brodie and Vanderburgh
buildings.
Operations Centre
Vanderburgh House
Page 292
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Overview of Administration Services
Information Technology (IT)
Information Technology (IT) assets are vital in supporting municipal
operations and electronic services for the community. The City's IT assets
encompass a wide array of sophisticated and essential technological tools
that are housed and used across all City-owned municipal facilities. These
assets include IT hardware such as computers (desktops, laptops and
tablets), printers, and accessories. IT Infrastructure assets include the vital
network and server devices that underpin the City's data management
and communication systems. They also include the reliable backup power
systems that guarantee the continuity and security of municipal operations.
Audiovisual and telecommunications equipment includes projectors,
TVs, and conference units as well as cell phones, modems, and desktop
phones.
Fleet and Equipment
Richmond Hill's administrative fleet and equipment play a crucial role in
the administrative efficiency and logistical capability of the City's municipal
services. The administrative fleet includes a varied assortment of vehicles,
such as SUVs, trucks, and vans. Administrative equipment is composed
of a diverse range of assets such as forklifts and stackers. Together, the
City's fleet and equipment assets ensure smooth logistical operations and
support the City's day-to-day administrative and operational functions.
Page 293
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
State of the Infrastructure
Replacement Value
$146 M
Average Condition
C (Fair)
Average Age / ESL
28 / 52 (years)
Asset Portfolio Summary
Asset
Quantity
Replacement
Value
Office Buildings
2 ea.
$120.3 M
Other Buildings
8 ea.
$9.6 M
IT
A mix
$9.5 M
Fleet and Equipment
A mix
$2.0 M
Parking Lots and Illumination
6 ea.
$4.4 M
Age Profile
0
20
40
60
80
Office Buildings*
Other Buildings*
IT
Fleet and
Equipment
Parking Lots and
Illumination
Average Age
Average Life Remaining
*Age and ESL reflects building components, not facility as a whole
Condition Profile
Very Good
$11.8 M
8%
Good
$58.3 M
40%
Fair
$41.9 M
29%
Poor
$30.7 M
21%
Very Poor
$3.4 M
2%
C
(Fair)
Avg. Condition
- The condition of Administration Services facilities is
based on Building Condition Assessments (BCAs)
completed in 2022/2023. The assessment results from
these BCAs are converted into a Corporate Asset
Management condition rating. The City completes BCA
for all City-owned facilities over a three-year cycle.
- The condition of IT assets is based on age/estimated
service life, which varies by the type of IT equipment.
- The condition of fleet and equipment is based on its
utilization (km) as well as age/estimated service life.
- The condition of parking lots is based on visual technical
inspections, and the condition of the associated
illumination is based on age/estimated service life
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Condition
Category
Letter
Grade
Office and Other
Facilities:
Building Condition
Assessments
IT:
Age/ESL
Fleet and
Equipment:
Utilization and
Age/ESL
Parking Lots: Condition
Assessments and
Age/ESL
Very Good
A
>0.8 to 1.0
0% to 25%
>0.8 to 1.0
>0.8 to 1.0
Good
B
>0.6 to 0.8
>25% to 50%
>0.6 to 0.8
>0.6 to 0.8
Fair
C
>0.4 to 0.6
>50% to 75%
>0.4 to 0.6
>0.4 to 0.6
Poor
D
>0.2 to 0.4
>75% to 100%
>0.2 to 0.4
>0.2 to 0.4
Very Poor
F
>0 to 0.2
>100%
>0 to 0.2
>0 to 0.2
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Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Strategic Level of Service: Richmond Hill provides efficient and effective administrative,
governance and operational support for delivering services to the community, while also
providing residents with access to in-person administrative services and venues for community
input and engagement.
Strategic Service Alignment
2024-2027 Strategic Plan Pillars and Priorities
Pillar 1: Growing a Livable, Sustainable Community
- Implement environmental sustainability practices in our work in collaboration with the
community, including planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Make decisions that meet the needs of today's residents without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.
Pillar 2: Focusing on People
- Engage the community, stakeholders and City staff to support informed participation and
to ensure that all voices can contribute toward effective decision-making.
- Support Richmond Hill's unique character and sense of community through programs,
services and events.
- Build a workforce for tomorrow to ensure that expertise and continuity is in place to
deliver on the City's aspirations for the future.
Pillar 3: Strengthening our Foundations
- Make decisions that are evidence-based and data-driven to enable the City's long term
financial sustainability, as well as social, environmental and economic sustainability.
- Focus on quality customer service and a continuous improvement mindset to support
innovation and be responsive to residents, stakeholders, businesses, the private sector
and colleagues.
Climate Change Framework Goals
- Apply Climate Change
Lens to Asset Management
- Apply Climate Change Lens to Land
Use Planning
- Apply Climate Change Lens to
Corporate Governance
- Formalize Community Risk Mitigation
- Leverage Green Infrastructure
- Foster Engagement and Innovation
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Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Administrative Facilities
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Scope
Performance Measure: Description and map of Administration Services facilities located across the
municipality.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Administration Services Facilities
Richmond Hill provides efficient and effective client-focused administration services that are easily accessible
for customers, such as payment of property taxes and water billing. This focus on client accessibility and
ease of use enriches the customer experience. These services are offered to residents in person at one of
the City's facilities as well as online through the City's digital presence. The Richmond Hill Main Municipal
Offices located at 225 East Beaver Creek Road is a central hub for these administration services and provides
public access, a meeting place for City Council, and a venue for public consultations in addition to a workplace
for City employees. The City's IT assets are the backbone that support the City's digital presence as well
as support staff in the delivery of other essential services to the community. The Richmond Hill Operations
Centre site situated at 1200 Elgin Mills Road East is essential in supporting the City's fleet, winter maintenance
program, and management of Fire and Emergency Services. The City remains committed to maintaining its
current administration facilities while considering opportunities for enhancements and expansions, such as the
planned North Operations Yard retrofit and Richmond Hill Operations Centre Yard expansion and upgrade.
Operations Centre
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Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Availability of Administrative Facilities
Page 297
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Administration Services Asset
Condition
Condition
Category
Condition FCI
Range
Condition Range Description
Very Good
<10%
New building or building that has recently undergone a significant degree of
renewal
Good
10% to <20%
Minimal service interruptions; minor renewals required
Fair
20% to <30%
Intermittent service interruptions; minor/major lifecycle renewals required in the
next five years
Poor
30% to <50%
Some service interruptions; major lifecycle renewals required in the next five years
Very Poor
>50%
Required renewal costs approaching building replacement cost; consideration for
asset replacement or demolition
Community Levels of Service
Service Attribute: Quality, Reliability
Performance Measure: Description of how condition of Administration Services Assets is measured and
reported.
Measure Type: City-Defined
Applicable Assets: Administration Services Assets
The City undertakes continual inspections of its Administration Services facilities and utilizes a computerized
maintenance management system (Maximo) to track and complete maintenance and repairs. The City
also undertakes formal Building Condition Assessments (BCA) on a rotating three-year cycle to assess
the condition of Administration Services facilities. The BCA results are categorized into a Corporate Asset
Management condition rating to report in this AM Plan and are also used to inform capital renewals.
For other Administration Services assets, including IT, fleet and equipment, the asset's age and estimated
service life are used. IT assets are converted into an IT Condition Index for reporting and forecasting purposes.
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Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Administration Services Asset
Condition
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Quality
IT Condition Index (ITCI)
City-Defined
47 (Fair)
Increase
Quality, Reliability
Weighted average FCI of office
buildings
City-Defined
0.18 (Good)
Maintain
(Good condition)
Reliability
Percentage of IT assets within
service life
City-Defined
73%
Increase
Technical Levels of Service
Council Chambers at Main Municipal Offices
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Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Levels of Service
Level of Service Theme: Other
The City has developed a suite of additional LOS measures for some of its assets, that it utilizes to understand,
monitor and report on various aspects of the service. It expects to expand and enhance these over time as it
continues to improve its LOS framework and performance measures.
Service Attribute
Performance Measure
Measure Type
Current
Performance
(2024)
Proposed
Performance
(2051)
Environmental
Annual hydro consumption (kWh)
per square metre (office buildings) City-Defined
148.6
Tracking for
Trends
Environmental
Annual natural gas consumption
(m3) per square metre (office
buildings)
City-Defined
10.9
Tracking for
Trends
Environmental
Annual water use intensity (m3)
per square metre (office buildings) City-Defined
0.5
Tracking for
Trends
Technical Levels of Service
Access Richmond Hill at Main Municipal Offices
Page 300
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Lifecycle Activities
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Lifecycle Activity
Description of Activities Practiced by the City
Non-Infrastructure
- The City explores opportunities for continuous improvements to enrich client experience when
accessing municipal administration-based services.
- Policies, plans and studies are completed (e.g. the new City 2024-2027 Strategic Plan)
- Buildings conform to Richmond Hill, Provincial and Federal government policies, standards and
regulations.
- Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) are completed for all City-owned facilities on a three-
year cycle including for the administration and operations buildings, which were completed in
2022/2023.
Maintenance
- Scheduled preventive maintenance actions are planned and executed to manage the City's
buildings.
- Reactive maintenance on buildings is also performed as required.
- Richmond Hill uses the Maximo software program to manage the maintenance program of the
City's facilities.
- Fleet and equipment are maintained per the recommended standards.
- Critical IT infrastructure is maintained to ensure it is functioning as intended, including upgrades
as required.
Rehabilitation
- Building assets are highly varied in type and complexity. They include structural, mechanical
and electrical components. The rehabilitation of the various building components of the City's
buildings are completed as identified through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program.
Replacement
- Fleet and equipment would typically be examined for replacement at the end of their service
life, which varies by the type of fleet and equipment.
- The City's IT assets would typically be replaced at the end of their service life. These assets
have varying service lives given their type, function, use and warranty periods.
- The replacement of the various building components of the City's facilities are determined
through the BCAs, EAM and VFA software program and completed as required.
Disposal
- Appropriate and proper disposal occurs when assets are replaced or renewed.
Growth / Service
Improvement
- Strategic and master plans can identify priorities that can lead to the acquisition of new assets
as well as expansion of building capacity, functions and amenities.
- AODA compliance remains achieved through building asset component renewals considered
during rehabilitation and/or replacement.
- Building assets could be considered for replacement to address energy efficiency, water
consumption, and/or technical and regulatory obsolescence.
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Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Management Lifecycle Strategies
Capital Treatments
The City owns and manages a wide array of different types of IT assets including IT Hardware, IT infrastructure,
audiovisual and telecommunication equipment. These assets have varying service lives given their function, use and
warranty periods. The City's lifecycle model forecasts that they would typically be replaced at the end of their service life.
Some of these IT assets would receive testing, inspections and upgrading as required. These assets may be replaced
sooner based on usage and/or premature failure or may be kept in service longer for spare use or other operational
needs.
Information Technology (IT) Lifecycle
Office Buildings Lifecycle
The office buildings are composed of a number of different building assets. Structural assets include components like
foundations and above-grade structures, which generally do not require renewal over the life of the building. Building
shell assets (i.e. roof and exterior walls) have an average estimated service life of around 30 years, although some
components, such as metal roofs and window frames, have significantly longer service lives. Service assets (mechanical,
plumbing and electrical) can have a 20 to 45 year service life. Interior assets (i.e. wall, flooring, and ceiling) may last 10
to 40 years depending on the material and level of occupancy/traffic volume of the facility. Once the condition of these
assets has deteriorated to poor/very poor and/or have reached the end of their life, the City's lifecycle model forecasts
they would typically be replaced. These assets may be kept in service longer or could be replaced sooner based on
criticality, condition, and effectiveness of alternative lifecycle treatments like repairs and rehabilitations.
Replacement -
Shell
Replacement -
Interiors
Replacement
- Services
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
Replacement
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Performance
Age (Years)
Without Interventions
With Interventions
Replacement Threshold
Intervention
Maintenance and Repairs
Page 302
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Risk Prioritization
Average Risk Grade
Low (B)
Risk Framework
Asset
Likelihood of Failure
Consequence of Failure
Condition
Capacity
Financial
Social
Environmental
- Office Buildings
- Other Buildings
- Information
Technology (IT)
- Fleet and Equipment
- Parking Lots
- Current and
deteriorating
condition
- Current
capacity
- Future
expansion/new
need identified
in budget, plan
or study
- Capital
replacement
cost
- Operating
cost/revenue
- Facility building
component
type and
function
- Asset type and
function
- Environmental
compliance
- Asset type
- Impact to
surrounding area
Summary of Asset Inventories by Risk
$15 M
$100 M
$31 M
$0 M
$0 M
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
Very Low
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Average
Risk Grade
Low (B)
Climate Change Considerations
- A 2050 net zero emissions goal for City facilities has been identified and the Corporate Energy Plan will continue
to be implemented.
- The City completes mandatory reporting requirements on annual energy consumption and GHG emissions for its
facilities to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification.
- The Operations Centre was recognized for energy performance at the Windfall Centre's 2022 Sustainability
Awards, as it achieved a 6% reduction in energy use intensity and an 11% reduction in GHG emissions (2020-
2021).
- The City initiated replacement of its fuel system to measure fuel efficiency.
- Plan to purchase four electric fleet vehicles and four charging stations.
- Incorporation of sustainable and energy efficient elements in City building designs and construction.
- Reducing single-use plastics at City buildings through the Corporate Single-Use Plastics Reduction Policy.
Page 303
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Investment Approach
Suggested SOGR Asset Investment Strategy - Administration Services ($ millions)
Backlog
$0 M
$2 M
$4 M
$6 M
$8 M
$10 M
$12 M
$14 M
$16 M
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.15 to $0.16 M/yr for Proposed LOS and addressing Backlog
Backlog
$9.8 M
Proposed LOS
+$0.15 to $0.16 M/yr
10 Years (2025-2034)
27 Years (2025-2051)
Service
2025
Infrastructure
Backlog
2025 Initial
SOGR
Expenditure
Annual
Phased-
in SOGR
Investment for
Proposed LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Total SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Avg. Annual
SOGR
Investment
for Proposed
LOS
Administration
9.8
5.5
+0.15 to 0.16
62.4
6.2
204.0
7.6
Page 304
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Administration Services (All)
Page 305
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Office Buildings
Facility Condition Index (FCI) over time
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Facility Condition Index ( FCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.15 to $0.16 M/yr for Proposed LOS
Unconstrained (All Richmond Hill-owned Facilities)
*The City is proposing to maintain a system-wide average FCI rating of "Good" as its proposed LOS for all facilities
assets. The system-wide FCI projections are juxtaposed in this figure against the service-level FCI forecasts, to illustrate
the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs.
Page 306
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Asset Investment Strategy
Impact on Levels of Service
Information Technology (IT) Assets
IT Condition Index (ITCI) over time
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
IT Condition Index (ITCI)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
2023-25 Avg. Capital Budget Expenditure (with 2% increase per year)
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Phased +$0.15 to $0.16 M/yr for Proposed LOS
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Very Poor (Grade F)
Poor (Grade D)
Good (Grade B)
Very Good (Grade A)
Fair (Grade C)
Scenario 1: Historical Spending Analysis
Scenario 2: Achieve Proposed Level of Service
Page 307
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Growth Capital and Operating Forecast
Asset Investment Strategy
The City of Richmond Hill continually explores opportunities for continuous improvements to enhance client-
focused approaches to delivering government services that will enrich the customer experience, accessibility
and ease of use. These ongoing initiatives, along with the state of good repair renewals for the existing assets,
will be incorporated into the City's Capital Budget and Forecast to support the future outlook.
Richmond Hill's Administration Services are set to undergo substantial growth and modernization, as outlined
in the City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast. The most significant project is the Operations Centre Yard
Expansion and Upgrade, with a total investment of $20 million, aimed at enhancing municipal operational
capabilities.
The CRH Web and Digital Transformation initiative, with a budget of $7.7 million, will improve digital service
delivery and integration across the City.
Other key projects include the North Operations Yard Connor Room Retrofit ($6.3 million) and the Richmond
Hill Centre Subway Project ($6.0 million), which will contribute to enhanced operational efficiency and public
transit infrastructure. Investments in technology and data systems, such as the GIS Program Evolution ($2.5
million) and Data and Analytics Program Evolution ($4.0 million), will further enhance service delivery. These
initiatives reflect the City's commitment to leveraging technology and infrastructure improvements to support
the growing needs of the community.
The Administration Services operating costs are projected to experience a steady increase from approximately
$66 million in 2025 to over $86 million by 2034. This anticipated rise in operating costs reflects the division's
ongoing efforts to manage existing operations and accommodate future expansions. The growth rate, as
indicated by the annual growth increase percentages, fluctuates year over year. These projections are
exclusive of potential inflationary pressures and are based on the current financial outlook and strategic
planning initiatives. If the development and enhancements of Administration Services proceed as outlined
in the City's 10-Year Capital Budget and Forecast, it can be expected that the operating costs will reflect the
necessary investment to support these advancements.
$0 M
$4 M
$8 M
$12 M
$16 M
$20 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
$0 M
$20 M
$40 M
$60 M
$80 M
$100 M
$120 M
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2025 Growth Capital Budget and Forecast
Preliminary Estimated Operating Cost Forecast
Page 308
Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Findings and Insights
Future Outlook
Establishing Proposed Levels of Service
Proposed Levels of Service for Administration Services facilities, IT assets and fleet/equipment have been
selected to ensure the long-term sustainability of service provision for these assets.
Note that all facilities within this service propose to maintain their average condition (measured through FCI)
at a value of "Good", which is part of a system-wide facilities LOS that takes into account the average FCI for
all facilities across all service areas. The City proposes to achieve this value from a system-wide perspective,
and as a result, FCIs of individual facilities may vary. To provide context, the FCI forecast presented for
Administration Services facilities was juxtaposed against the system-wide FCI forecast given an unconstrained
funding scenario. This was done to illustrate the potential FCI that could be achieved if funding is allocated to
facilities to fully meet all short and long-term needs. In practice, the City will balance its needs across facilities
as required to ensure that it maximizes its ability to achieve its service level targets and minimizes potential
risks.
Furthermore, the reliability metric of IT assets indicates that 73% of these assets are within their service lives,
and the City is proposing to increase this value. Recent planned capital investments towards IT assets are
anticipated, which will achieve this result for the City.
Furthermore, historic spending trends, when projected forward indicate that if the City continues to spend in
this manner, funding will be available for both facilities and IT assets to meet proposed service levels to 2051.
The phased-in approach to increasing spending in the forecasts was established to illustrate a methodology
that attempts to gradually increase spending to ensure that affordability is considered when balancing out risks
and service levels in the long term.
Managing Lifecycle Needs and Mitigating Risks
As noted above, the City's facilities-based proposed levels of service were established at the portfolio level for
facilities. The financial forecasts generally reveal that for most facilities, financial pressures arise in the near
term before subsiding as spending is increased in the later years of the ramped-up forecast scenario.
At the City, facilities are managed by the City's Facility Management Division, which receives a pool of funding
and has the ability to allocate it across its entire portfolio of facilities, which span across the City's various
service areas. As a result, the City has a mechanism to address short-term needs identified for Administration
Services facilities by allocating money as needed in years of high needs. While doing so, in areas where
funding cannot be allocated, the City can explore some options:
-
It can accept a lower level of service in the short to medium term for given facilities, recognizing
that these may resolve in the long term. Under this option, the City will prioritize high-risk projects or
facilities and lifecycle activities that do not disrupt the services prioritized to the community. Projects
that are not public facing or not critical can be deemed a lower priority when funding pressures are
higher and can be addressed in the future when pressures are lower.
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Appendix K: Administration Services | 2025 Asset Management Plan
Future Outlook
Findings and Insights
-
It can explore ways to allocate additional funding in the near term and then decrease it in the long term
when needs are anticipated to be lower. This need should be balanced against the City's capacity to
deliver projects and available funding.
With respect to IT assets, recent capital budget forecasts indicate that the City is expected to replace
some of its IT assets which should reflect an improvement of service levels in the near-term. For the entire
Administration Services asset portfolio, IT assets represent a relatively small portion (approximately 7%). As
a result, funding should be available to allocate to critical IT assets as needed and ensure that they remain in
service.
Note that facilities replacement costs were developed from a costing source integrated into the City's Facilities
Management software. Currently, the City is undergoing a process of evaluating and updating these costs.
Once this evaluation is complete, updated facilities replacement costs will be reflected in future iterations of the
City's AM Plan.
Main Municipal Offices