The Fargo Building Board approved a package of building-code amendments after staff recommended adoption of the compiled changes, including city-specific flood provisions designed to preserve Community Rating System credit from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Board members voted to adopt the amendments as presented and to keep Fargo's flood provisions in the adopted codes while specifying that the city's more restrictive flood standards, including the local basement exemption, would continue to govern locally.

Staff said retaining the flood provisions in code text helps Fargo maintain CRS points with FEMA and that the city will reference Fargo's flood standards rather than substitute only the model-code flood language. The staff presentation said the city is renewing a basement exemption Fargo has maintained since the late 1970s and that FEMA remapping and a planned diversion project are likely to prompt a more thorough review of flood provisions in the future.

During discussion board members and industry commenters urged that alternatives and manufacturer- or engineer-backed designs remain allowable as 'alternate designs' under the code. Staff responded that alternate designs or materials can still be submitted and reviewed but warned that making major changes to the locally adopted flood details could require a lengthier FEMA review and recertification process.

The board approved the motion by voice vote after a member moved to approve the amendments, including the flood provisions, and another member seconded. The motion was carried when members signified approval by saying 'aye.'

Staff said the immediate objective was to complete the code update cycle promptly to avoid jeopardizing the city's CRS standing; staff and the board noted a fuller re-evaluation of the flood provisions would follow once the diversion project and FEMA remapping work progress.

Details discussed included the tradeoff between adopting FEMA's model flood details and maintaining Fargo's more restrictive local standards, the timeline pressure stemming from FEMA review, and the administrative option to accept alternate engineering submissions for specific projects.

The board did not adopt any additional technical changes at the meeting; staff will proceed with the adopted amendments and indicated they will coordinate future, more extensive review of the flood provisions when the diversion project and FEMA remapping are further along.