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WS – Item #2 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 2 Date: May 5, 2014 To: City Council From: Katie Larsen, City Planner Re: City Ordinance on the Keeping of Bees Background At the April 7, 2014 Council Work Session, staff presented the City Council with information regarding the current City ordinance as it relates to the keeping of bees. Currently, bees are considered farm animals and the keeping of bees is allowed on properties zoned R, Rural or R-X, Rural Executive with no requirements for permits or lot size/setback regulation. At the Work Session, the Council and staff heard from residents and proponents of hobby bee keeping requesting the ordinance be amended to allow for the keeping of bees on residential properties. Since the Work Session meeting, staff received numerous phone calls and emails from residents in opposition to such an amendment. At the April 14, 2014 City Council meeting, two residents spoke at Open Mike in opposition and one spoke in favor. Staff was directed by Council to bring the item back to the May 5th Council Work Session with more information. Ordinance Research The University of Minnesota Bee Lab website has a summary of 82 Minnesota city ordinances related to bee keeping. Review of these ordinances found no standard regulation. Ordinances varied on lot size requirements, zoning districts, licensing, setbacks etc. Staff met with Gary Reuter a scientist at the University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology to gain a better understanding of the hobby. If the City amends the ordinance to allow for bee keeping on residential properties, the following requirements could be considered: 1. Lot Size a. No minimum requirement 2. Zoning a. Rural and Residentially zoned parcels only 1