On Nov. 5, 2025, the Salina Building Advisory Board voted to recommend that the City Commission adopt a package of updated building and safety codes, including the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), along with the 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), International Residential Code (IRC), Uniform Mechanical Code (2018), Uniform Plumbing Code (2018) and the 2018 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPHTC).

The board and staff framed the package as an effort to align local rules with current national model codes adopted in recent code cycles and to reduce local amendments that duplicate model-code provisions. Margie Clem, deputy director of community and development services, said staff and subcommittees have worked on the updates over more than three years and held public outreach on Oct. 29; roughly a dozen members of the public attended and no formal written comments were received at the time of the meeting.

Board members voted to remove one local IBC amendment about continued use of existing structures after staff noted the IEBC will now cover those conditions. The board then passed a motion to recommend the IBC (2018) ordinance to the City Commission. The board also recommended the IEBC (2018) and the IRC (2018) for adoption; when adopting the IRC the board specifically removed Section 20 (swimming pool provisions) from that ordinance so pool rules would be handled in the separate USPHTC ordinance.

On the National Electrical Code, staff explained that Annex H (inspector qualifications) is non-mandatory model language. Rodney Rexwinkel, the city's commercial plan reviewer, said removing Annex H avoids unintentionally disqualifying local inspectors who do not hold the national certification Annex H describes. The board recommended adoption of NEC 2017 as presented.

Under the USPHTC, commissioners debated barrier heights for seasonal pools. The board kept a 48-inch barrier requirement for seasonal pools (rather than raising to 54 inches) to avoid rendering many existing seasonal pools noncompliant; permanent pools will require a 6-foot barrier. The board also agreed not to accept powered safety covers as a substitute for barrier fencing because of maintenance and reliability concerns expressed by the subcommittee.

Motions to recommend each ordinance to the City Commission were made, seconded and approved; meeting minutes record "Aye" votes without roll-call tallies for each motion. Staff said draft ordinances and the complete ordinance package will be forwarded to the City Commission for formal consideration.

Next steps: staff will prepare draft ordinances for the City Commission, and the board will return to discuss any outstanding items requested by commissioners. The board also asked staff to circulate draft ordinances in advance of the next meeting so members can review language before votes.