This document discusses asset management practices in the Town of Golden. It provides information on the costs of various municipal services and infrastructure projects to help educate citizens. It also shares the results of a citizen survey that found residents want involvement in decisions and communication from the town. The document recommends improving communication, establishing an asset management committee with public representation, continuing cost-sharing negotiations, and educating citizens on civic government. The overall message is that practicing good asset management requires partnership between the town corporation, town council, and community.

1. ELECTED OFFICIALS
2011
CONFESSIONS OF A
RECOVERING POLITICIAN

3. What does the Town do with all that
money anyway?
WHAT DOES THE TOWN DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY
ANYWAY?

4. What is all of this worth?
My household expenses……
• $88/week on car/house/life insurance
• $75/week on phone and internet (no cable)
• $44/week on taxes and utilities
WHAT IS IT ALL WORTH?

5. • Sidewalks
• Maintained roads
• Clean drinking water
• Clean streets
• Maintained water/sewer system
• Community and cultural events
• Garbage and recycling pick up
• Parks and pathways
• Sports facilities
• People to put out that burning
house
• A safe community
• Play places
• Programs for ALL
• Bylaw enforcement
• Enforcement of building
standards
• Flood protection
• People to address your concerns
• Support for seniors
• Assistance in finding your lost
dog
• Planning and zoning for the
future
• And a Town that is working for
you!

6. I said all that to say this……….It is time to talk about Asset
Management!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE STAFF TALK TO THE
MAYOR ABOUT ASSET MANAGEMENT……….

7. ELECTED OFFICIALS
2011

8. 1. The identify the costs to provide, maintain,
renew and, if necessary, eliminate
community-owned capital assets
2. Balanced with our community members’
willingness to pay
OUR PURPOSE FOR PRACTICING ASSET
MANAGMENT

9. • Participated with NAMS Light from Australia
• Part of the Corporate Work Plan since 2011
• Adopted an AM policy in early 2012
• Approved long term financial policies in 2013
• Created Non-Statutory Asset Management
Reserve
OUR PROCESS FOR PRACTICING ASSET
MANAGMENT

10. • Proactive rather than reactive
• Staff capacity
• Asset renewal focus
• Condition assessment funding
• Borrowing
• Rationalized focus on existing assets
• Budget reduction proposals
OUR POLICIES FOR PRACTICING ASSET
MANAGMENT

11. • Ensure that Golden’s infrastructure is provided in a manner
that respects socio-cultural, environmental and economic
sustainability.
• Demonstrate transparent and responsible asset management
processes that align with perceptible best practices.
• Provide the appropriate levels of service to residents and
visitors.
• Achieve ‘grant ready status' for federal infrastructure
funds……..the NCBF.
OUR PURPOSE FOR PRACTICING ASSET
MANAGMENT

12. From Asset Register to Asset Renewal Projects

13. From Asset Register to Asset Renewal Projects

14. From Asset Register to Asset Renewal Projects

15. From Asset Register to Asset Renewal Projects: Equals This…

16. 19 Asset Renewal Projects

17. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

18. The check engine light is on…..How do
the community to care?
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON:
How do you get the community to care?

19. STAT ASSETS: WATER, SEWER,
EMERGENCY SERVICES, SOLID
WASTE, TRANSPORTATION,
NON-STAT ASSETS:
RECREATION AND ARTS
AND CULTURAL
FACILITIES, PUBLIC
SPACES, PEDESTRIAN
NETWORKS,
THE CITIZENS OF GOLDEN
HOW CAN THE TOWN OF
GOLDEN ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY ON ASSET
MANAGEMENT?

20. Q2: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your knowledge of
local government services?
Answered: 172 Skipped: 52

21. Q3: What is the best way for the Town of Golden to reach you with
information? Choose your top three.
Answered: 203 Skipped: 21

22. Q6: If it was up to you, what tax options do you agree with most?
Answered: 187 Skipped: 37

23. Q7: What do you think is the approximate cost of replacing one
block of sidewalk?
Answered: 184 Skipped: 40

24. Q8: What do you think is the approximate cost of replacing one
block of road with curb, gutter, water, and sewer lines?
Answered: 184 Skipped: 40

25. Q9: Rate the following statement: I want to know if the Town is
proposing significant changes to services even if it saves
taxpayer money.
Answered: 184 Skipped: 40

26. STUDY FINDINGS
1. Citizens expect to be involved in local government decisions and have a say on how
their tax dollars are spent.
2. Communication, engagement, and education are critical factors for the following:
(a) improving the level of trust between the citizens and the local government;
(b) building awareness and understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and
limitations of the local government; and (c) creating capacity in citizens to
participate in conversations involving community owned assets.
3. The Town of Golden should pursue the augmentation of revenue streams in two
ways: (a) by other levels of government, particularly the regional district; and
(b) increased taxes and user fees.
STUDY FINDINGS

27. RECOMENDATIONS
1. Make communication and engagement a priority by allocating resources to a
communications officer position.
2. Use every opportunity to include an asset management educational component to any
communiqué
3. Establish an interdisciplinary asset management committee that includes representation
from the public to identify existing levels of service, prioritize infrastructure projects,
and develop a communication strategy to educate the public.
4. Continue negotiations with the regional district on cost-sharing opportunities.
5. Lobby the provincial government to bolster the curriculum on civic government within
the educational system.
RECOMENDATIONS

28. RECOMENDATIONS
1.CORPORATION
2.COUNCIL
3.COMMUNITY
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

29. RECOMENDATIONS
Thank you
christinabenty@christinabenty.com
ASSET MANAGEMENT EVANGELIST