05-05-2014 Council Work Session Minutes

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1 2 3 4 DATE : May 5, 2014 5 TIME STARTED : 6:10 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED : 9:15 p.m. 7 MEMI.,ERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman, 8 Rafferty, IRoeser and Mayor Reinert 9 MEM... ERS A SENT : None 10 11 12 Staff members present: Community Development Director Michael Grochala, Public 13 Safety Director John Swenson, Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson; City Engineer 14 Jason Wedel; City Planner Katie Larsen; City Clerk Julie Bartell 15 16 2. Bee Ordinance — City Planner Larsen reviewed her report indicating that staff has 17 done research on the matter of bee regulations, as requested by the council at the last 18 work session. In looking at what other cities are doing, the regulations are pretty much 19 across the board. In attempting to further understand bee regulations, staff also met with 20 a staff person of the University of Minnesota who specifically deals with bees and came 21 to the conclusion again that regulations are varied. If the council would like to consider 22 a change to the city's regulations, that would involve an ordinance amendment and would 23 follow the established process of first review by the Planning and Zoning Board. She 24 reviewed the considerations of making a change as outlined in the staff report. 25 26 Mayor Reinert explained that the council received a request to look at the city's 27 regulations. Reviewing requests is what the council does and getting input is the process 28 they use. Now the council has heard about what other cities are doing as part of that 29 discussion. As he has personally considered the issue, he believes that regulations that 30 deal with the size of the property where bees are kept may not be quite right; rather he 31 thinks it should be more about distance from the hives to other property. In other words, 32 you should be able to draw a circle around the use and anything that falls into it would 33 require permission. If there's no property that isn't yours in that circle, then you're fine. 34 In his mind that eliminates the idea of a 25 foot setback. 35 36 Council Member Rafferty said he's been thinking about the concept of permission for this 37 type of use. He pointed out that any process involving permission should take into 38 consideration the fact that people can change their minds and/or move away. There has to 39 be a way to take permission back. Mayor Reinert explained, in previous discussions, the 40 council indicated that permissions would be required yearly. 41 42 Council Member Stoesz remarked that, as regulations are developed, he'd like to also see 43 consideration of allowing people whose property doesn't qualify to keep bees in a 44 common area such as the community gardens. Staff noted that could be a problem since 45 areas like the gardens don't offer any security to the property (bees) and also he wonders CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES May 5, 2014 1