One-Sentence Summary

Council considered the Corporate Services Manager’s report on the 2025 Asset Management Plan regarding risks from neglected classes and road lifespan strategies, then addressed additional business discussion noting no further items while welcoming new member Megan Robertson.

Whole Meeting Summary

The Committee received a report from the Manager of Corporate Services regarding Report CR-25-091 that presents the 2025 Asset Management Plan addressing risks of increased operating costs and closures, outlining a strategy combining quantitative and qualitative measurements to extend road lifespans through proactive maintenance. The committee reported no additional business items and welcomed new member Megan Robertson to the group, concluding the discussion of additional business without further action or decisions for the meeting agenda.

Most Newsworthy Items

  • Asset Management Plan Values and Funding Gaps Quantitative Standpoint But: The speaker explained that combining quantitative and qualitative measurements is essential for the asset management plan, noting a core asset network replacement value of $1,300,000 which increased by $140,000,000 from 2022. Non-core asset values remain at $300,000,000, unchanged since last fall. The current level of service is reactive, resulting in an annual funding gap of $38,000,000, with $11,000,000 supported by taxes for roads, bridges, stormwater, parks, and open spaces. While the community expressed satisfaction with most non-core assets, engagement surveys showed low participation, skewing results regarding video consumption. The speaker emphasized that levels of service are evaluative rather than operational and proposed collaborating with neighboring municipalities to agree on shared documents.
  • Asset Management Strategy Extends Road Lifespan. the Speaker Explained That While Asset: The presentation outlines a strategy to extend road lifespans through proactive maintenance, addressing localized issues that drive public complaints while integrating qualitative and quantitative measures.
  • The committee reported no additional business items but welcomed new member Megan: The committee reported no additional business items but welcomed new member Megan Robertson to the group.

Meeting Recap

8.b.1 Report CR-25-091 from the Manager of Corporate Services Re 2025 Asset

The Committee received a report on the 2025 Asset Management Plan that addresses risks of increased operating costs and asset closures if certain classes are neglected, outlining a strategy combining quantitative and qualitative measurements to extend road lifespans through proactive maintenance.

Asset Management Plan Values and Funding Gaps Quantitative Standpoint But

The speaker Speaker 01 quantitative and qualitative measurements is essential for the asset management plan, noting a core asset network replacement value of $1,300,000 which increased by $140,000,000 from 2022. Non-core asset values remain at $300,000,000, unchanged since last fall. The current level of service is reactive, resulting in an annual funding gap of $38,000,000, with $11,000,000 supported by taxes for roads, bridges, stormwater, parks, and open spaces. While the community expressed satisfaction with most non-core assets, engagement surveys showed low participation, skewing results regarding video consumption. The speaker Speaker 02 of service are evaluative rather than operational and proposed collaborating with neighboring municipalities to agree on shared documents.

Asset Management Strategy Extends Road Lifespan. the speaker Speaker 03 Asset

The presentation outlines a strategy to extend road lifespans through proactive maintenance, addressing localized issues that drive public complaints while integrating qualitative and quantitative measures.

Committee Reviews 2025 Asset Management Plan

The Committee received a report on the 2025 Asset Management Plan, which addresses risks of increased operating costs and asset closures if certain classes are neglected. The staff proposed a high-level plan supplemented by detailed ‘report cards’ for specific assets like roads and trails to avoid an unwieldy single document. Public feedback will be collected between July 22 and August 29, 2025, before the plan is integrated with future iterations. Council members questioned the lack of detail in the presentation and requested staffing resources and provincial benchmarks for comparison. Staff clarified that a dedicated coordinator role is currently vacant due to maternity leave and that detailed assessments will be conducted by external consultants or internal staff as needed.

Corporate Services Coordinates Asset Management and Risk Mitigation

The Corporate Services department coordinates internal asset management across engineering, public works, water, wastewater, parks, and facilities to ensure consistent information and risk mitigation. The department utilizes an Ontario Community Infrastructure Funding Program grant of $80,000 for 2025 to offset staff operational costs for the asset risk management coordinator and GIS coordinator. While the 2022 asset management plan included quantitative measures like pavement and bridge condition indexes, the 2024 plan lacked these metrics, creating challenges in comparing municipal data without a standardized tool. The Ministry is reviewing all plans and may audit them to ensure replacement values align with averages across municipalities, preventing inflated or deflated financial conditions. Council moved a recommendation to address these matters, which carried unanimously.

12 DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

The committee reported no additional business items but welcomed new member Megan Robertson to the group.

Links

Read full transcript: https://helpos.ca/transcripts/owen-sound/committee-corporate-services/2025-07-10

Agenda page: https://helpos.ca/agendas/owen-sound/committee-corporate-services/2025-07-10

Official meeting page: https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/MeetingsCalendarView.aspx/Meeting?Id=4278f5cb-b121-40c0-a54d-22a386829562

Original video: https://video.isilive.ca/owensound/New Encoder_CR_2025-07-10-05-30.mp4