Asset framework shows progress toward improved city collaboration

By BRENDAN MILLER on March 31, 2026.

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

According to city’s Asset Management Program Summary, a policy approved by council in 2024 to review and collect data on 12 internal department assets, steady collaboration progress has been made.

Data collected allows the city to make better informed investment decisions to protect its more than $14.5-billion infrastructure portfolio, staffers told members of the corporate services committee during a presentation last week.

The city says its 12 internal departments included within the Asset Management Program Review have been working together more consistently and using better information to understand what assets the city owns, their current condition and any funding that may be needed to maintain them over time.

Examples of these assets include runways, taxiways and maintenance buildings at the Medicine Hat Regional Airport, or the city’s three fire stations, police station and all related equipment, as well as all city fleet vehicles and machines.

The AMPR policy seeks to provide internal departments the tools and information needed to support future business planning that will affect both capital and operational budgets and the city’s long-term financial requirements.

The policy or framework provides city staff in each of the 12 selected departments a guide to report on asset management, including maintaining and replacing public infrastructure.

According to the Canadian Network of Assets Managers, highlights of the framework include an improved understanding of the challenges the city faces and better understanding on where money is spent.

CNAM also says the framework is intended to improve appreciation of municipal service and improve confidence in staff and management through transparency.

The city hopes the data collected since 2024 will provide elected officials and staff increased clarity on current strategic goals and finding a better balance between the service, risk and costs of public infrastructure.

This will help staff ensure essential services like roads, water, parks, facilities and emergency services continue at an affordable rate.

“It allows for budgets and rates to be built around sustainability. It encourages departments to work together more effectively,” said Renee Fenwich, asset program manager. “It ensures that information and data is more readily available to support decision making.”

The framework uses six elements to manage assets, including performing an inventory condition assessment, defining what level of service each asset provides, identifying and managing all related risks, understanding costs and replacement values, ensuring appropriate investments and tracking progress.

Based on the 2025 program review the most significant opportunity for improvement is how it the city reviews future operating and capital costs on infrastructure, and aligning investments with service needs.

According to the review, “Greater accuracy and confidence in the underlying data, indicating improvements in the quality of documentation” requires improvement.

In 2026 the framework seeks to improve data quality, increase collaborations and ensure asset management is fully integrated into all future planning.

“This approach supports reliable services, responsible use of public funds and the long-term sustainability of assets that residents and businesses rely on every day.”

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