David Carey, director of Planning and Development Services, presented the city’s triannual code-update package on Dec. 8, explaining that the proposed ordinances update multiple local code chapters to align with the 2021 International Code Council (ICC) model codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). Carey said the proposed changes are largely organizational and clarifying rather than sweeping technical changes, and that task-force review and law-department drafting produced unanimous recommendations from volunteer industry and trade committees.

Carey told the council he will ask for formal adoption at the next meeting and recommended an enforcement date of Dec. 30, 2025 for the electrical code (to align with state adoption) and Jan. 30, 2026 for the remainder of the code set. He said the city will publish the updated e-code and enforce the new standards after a one-month formatting and communication period. Craig Giese, who chaired the fire-code review committee, spoke in support and thanked volunteers and staff for detailed committee work.

What happens next: staff will return next Monday with formal ordinances for council action; the council did not vote on the code package during the Dec. 8 hearing.