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<br />City Council <br />Study Session Summary <br />May 12, 2009 <br />Page 2 of 5 <br /> <br />Animal Ordinances and AQricultural ZoninQ <br /> <br />Currently the City does not allow bee-keeping. Staff conducted research on <br />similar city ordinances addressing bee keeping. Common attributes include the <br />following: <br /> <br />Number of hives <br />Two hives per zone lot <br />Larger lot, allows more hives <br />Enclosure and marking required for hives <br />Fiscal impact and planning for enforcement <br />No public licensing or hearing process for these communities <br />Public Notice - Opportunity for more education <br />Licensing, time lines, and investment <br /> <br />Bee-keeping is set as a discussion and direction item for the June 2nd City <br />Council meeting. Committee members and staff discussed the detail of <br />proscription and fee for licensing of bee-keeping. Concerns and questions to be <br />considered are: <br /> <br />Neighbors adjacent to bee keeping property <br />Neighbor possibly having a serious allergy to bees <br />Discussion with other municipalities that allow bee keeping regarding <br />issues that have arisen. <br /> <br />One Councilor commented that bees have been in the City for a long time, and a <br />fear factor is involved with bee-keeping. Another question posed was "Where <br />are the cities that have permitted bees through ordinance and then later repealed <br />the ordinance, and for what reasons?" A Colorado University expert is expected <br />to speak to the council during the June 2nd regular meeting about bees. <br /> <br />Public comments: <br /> <br />Saint Ambrose has bees in the orchard and have not had bee stings reported. <br />Most districts or cities do not require licensing for bee-keeping. <br />Education is available, and speakers have information to present. <br /> <br />Council members discussed the hope that the bee-keeping issue does not pit <br />neighbors against one another. <br />