Flagstaff staff recommend adopting 2024 energy and wildland‑urban‑interface codes with local amendments; estimate upfront costs and long‑term savings

City of Flagstaff staff recommended that the city adopt the 2024 model energy and building codes with locally tailored amendments to balance energy performance and constructability, and to adopt a new wildland‑urban‑interface standard to improve wildfire resilience.

Amy Tressler, the city's building official, explained staff want to preserve practical 2x6 wall construction and proposed amending the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) prescriptive wall requirement from R30 to R21 for typical prescriptive paths. "This amendment would really cater specifically to somebody who wants to use the prescriptive code to build their home," Tressler said, noting alternative performance paths remain available.

Jenny Eamon, climate action section director, outlined the benefits staff expect from adopting the 2024 base energy code with a few amendments: modeled energy cost reductions on the order of 12–15% compared with the city's 2018 code, improved passive survivability in outages, and long‑term utility savings that can help lower the cost of living. Staff presented modeled compliance costs: a central estimate of roughly $8,400 upfront for single‑family compliance (national/local range $4,000–$13,000) and about $3,200 per unit for multifamily, while reporting multifamily projects often see quicker payback and net utility savings.

Eamon described proposed "readiness" appendices to make future retrofits easier and less costly: solar‑ready planning on roof designs, electric‑ready wiring and EV conduit/EV‑ready requirements for larger multifamily developments. Staff emphasized exceptions where infrastructure capacity or cost would make requirements infeasible.

Noah Baker, wildfire specialist with the Flagstaff Fire Department, presented the wildland‑urban interface (WUI) proposal to adopt the 2024 International WUI Code and to standardize on a "Wildfire Prepared Home Plus" construction baseline for new homes in risk areas. Baker said the proposal simplifies prior options into a single baseline and aligns with Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety standards; staff estimated an incremental cost of about $4,500 for an 1,800‑sq‑ft new home to meet the proposed WUI measures.

Staff also briefed the commission on fire code updates that address battery storage, EV charging hazards and related emergency response and ventilation concerns; they noted these topics are evolving and the fire department continues to adapt guidance and protocols.

Questions from commissioners covered passive solar orientation, lighting controls and whether some prescriptive requirements could be relaxed where appropriate; staff said passive solar and other design measures are being considered in zoning and incentive discussions. Staff asked commissioners to forward follow‑up questions by email and said City Council will review the code packages at a June 9 work session and possibly consider adoption on June 16.

No formal council vote on the code packages occurred at the commission meeting; staff requested feedback and will return to council with final drafts.