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From: Chip Gruver <chip_gruver@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2015 1:33 PM To: Joe Flaherty; Gary Meehlhause; Sherry Gunn; Carol Mueller; Al Hull Subject: Regarding Honey Bees City Council Members, I noted the recent interest in allowing honey bees in Mounds View. This has been an interest of mine for some time and I want to through my support behind allowing honey bees in the city limits. Their benefits are well know as pollinators and the honey they furnish is delicious. The suburban environment we create for them is actually beneficial for them as we are not going to use large- scale amounts of pesticides which is a real threat in rural areas. Of course, your biggest concern will be public safety. Will the bees sting people, particularly children. If I may bring your attention to Keeping Bees With Kids <http://www.worldofbeekeeping.com/keeping-bees-with-kids/> by a father and beekeeper who discusses how the bees have effected his children. There is always the risk of stings, but bees have been bred for generations to be gentle. Most of the insects who sting aggressively are wasps who are natural enemies of bees. If I may clear up any concern about Killer Bees (africanized honey bees). Our climate is too cold for them, much too cold. They hold a line more than a thousand miles south of us. They are much more aggressive than normal honey bees and are mercifully far away. I have read that you are considering licensing beekeepers in the city. That makes sense to me as long as the fees are in the tens of dollars. More than that and it become prohibitive for those who would like to raise bees. Starting costs for two colonies is about $700 and maintaining them costs a few hundred more, all before we get any honey. The suggestion of fencing around the hives can get really expensive fast. Additionally, the fencing might shade the bees in the mornings when they need sunshine to warm them up. Could the requirement be six foot fencing OR a certain distance from the street or another property (e.g. 20 feet)? Bees are really only protective of the ten feet around their hive (and even then, much less protective than you might imagine). I think the public concern for safety would be addressed well that way. Finally, there was some discussion about limiting the number of hives someone can have. This makes sense. Could I suggest that the limit be ten hives. That's not the size of a commercial operation, but grows to about the limit you can call a hobby beekeeper. If the limit is lower, then a successful beekeeper could hit it within two or three years. Bees want to grow more colonies so a beekeeper will need to split a colony every year or so to keep them from swarming. Thank you for your time. I really appreciate your considering bees. If you permit us to have them, we will show you what great citizens of Mounds View they can be. Chip Gruver 5278 Red Oak Dr. Mounds View, MN 55112