Bellaire Buildings and Standards Commission reviews floodplain training, substandard-structure abatement and new FOG ordinance

The Bellaire Buildings and Standards Commission on Jan. 23 heard staff updates on floodplain management training, bids to abate substandard structures, and implementation of a new city fats, oils and grease (FOG) ordinance, and approved its Dec. 5, 2024 meeting minutes.

Christian Summers, assistant development services director, building official and floodplain manager, summarized training staff attended and next steps for the Community Rating System (CRS) portion of the National Flood Insurance Program. Summers said inspectors and plans examiners attended FEMA and Texas Water Development Board courses, including E0273 "managing floodplain development through the NFIP," which Summers said improved staff ability "to better understand the purpose of the CRS program and our participation." He added that training helped staff "better understand as to how to read a flood insurance rate map and a flood insurance study" and to complete CRS documentation accurately so the city can "obtain the best CRS rating."

Summers reported that Inspector Pete Solis and plans examiner Brittany Renee earned seats at a Texas Water Development Board…