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 CRS training and that Melody Sohn attended a Course 0278 that focused on activities that qualify for CRS credits. Summers said the trainings should help staff reduce field oversights, improve plan review clarity and decrease the need for remedial work after construction.

On housing code enforcement, Summers said the city is seeking bids to abate a substandard property at 400 Otto Street that previously went through the city's substandard structure proceedings. He said the current line item for substandard structure abatement is "about 10 grand" but that recent bids are running "about 11, 12 grand" and that the department will "have to go for more" in next fiscal-year budgeting to cover work like Otto Street. Summers also said the department is awaiting a response from family members of an occupied house on Howard; staff have sent the property owner two notice letters and may return the matter to the commission if compliance is not achieved.

Travis Tanner, director of development services, briefed the commission on the City Council's adoption in December of a FOG ordinance based on Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) model rules. Tanner said the ordinance is intended to require food-service establishments to document regular servicing of grease traps and that the city will implement the program this quarter. He told the commission that plumbing plan review will continue to check grease-trap sizing and that the department can require quarterly manifests for oversized, older traps so those units are still maintained.

Commissioners discussed the adoption process for updated building codes. Summers told the commission staff are still finalizing language for the 2024 International Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code and expect proposed revisions to Chapter 9 (including Section 9.71) to appear for commission review in February, with additional comment and possible final action in March. Summers said staff exchanged draft language with the city attorney's office and that the commission would likely receive materials a week or two before the February meeting for discussion.

Ms. Lewis, the council liaison, reported a communication from a resident, identified in the record as Dr. Patel, who has complained about the permitting process and questioned requirements such as installing sprinklers. Commissioners clarified that the Buildings and Standards Commission reviews the building official's application of the code but does not itself change city code; Ms. Lewis said a councilmember planned to meet with staff to discuss the resident's concerns.

The commission approved a motion to accept the Dec. 5, 2024 meeting minutes "as written." The motion was moved and seconded on the record; the commission voted by voice and the chair announced the motion passes.

The commission reviewed its annual-report format for City Council and agreed on process and timing for sending comments; the chair offered commissioners the option to present the report to council, or to have the chair present if no commissioner volunteers.

No public commenters registered for the meeting, and no formal code adoptions or ordinance amendments were voted on at the Jan. 23 meeting.

Ending: Commissioners scheduled follow-up on the Chapter 9 draft language and will consider budget adjustments for substandard-structure abatement during next fiscal-year discussions. The commission adjourned following the meeting.