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Parks and Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes March 4, 2024 Page 5 1 2 Commissioner Holiday asked if sheds are considered residential structures and Mr. Sonterre 3 stated they are not. Mr. Sonterre asked Ms. Helgen if the courses would train the beekeepers 4 on the process and procedures. Ms. Helgen stated it would be included in the online and in- 5 person courses. 6 7 Commissioner Swiontek asked about the density of the bees and if they would impact other 8 pollinators. Ms. Helgen stated there has been a lot of research done and no more than 2 9 colonies are allowed on each property. 10 11 Commissioner Guest asked what the biggest misconception is around beekeeping and Ms. 12 Helgen stated that it is easy. There is a lot that goes into beekeeping. Managing the bees and 13 disease management is very important. 14 15 Commissioner Holiday stated he is concerned about the size of St. Anthony. This may be 16 better as a partnership with Three Rivers Park District. He fears neighbors may have issues if 17 next door to a beekeeper. 18 19 Chair Fee asked if there is communication done when such an Ordinance is rolled out to teach 20 the general community. Ms. Helgen stated there are a lot of materials available on the U of M 21 website that beekeepers could give their neighbors. Mr. Sonterre stated information sessions 22 could also be held. The course is a full day in-person. There is also a year 2 class. The online 23 class is modules available for 2 years. 24 25 Mr. Yunker stated the next steps is to determine if there is a need for community education 26 before an ordinance is passed. Commissioner Guest suggested moving it onto the City 27 Council for their review. Commissioner Holiday stated based on the No Mow May ordinance 28 that was passed onto Council last year and then finding out Slow Mow Summer was better. 29 He asked if Three Rivers Park District would need to follow the ordinance if someone reached 30 out to them for a partnership. Mr. Sonterre stated the courses are done in early Spring and late 31 Fall. Chair Fee asked if the ordinance is passed immediately and Mr. Yunker stated it would 32 be a few months and would be looking at 2025 for setting up a new colony. Commissioner 33 Holiday asked if Ms. Michaelson was present and whether she had already taken the course. 34 Chair Fee stated Ms. Michaelson wasn’t looking at starting until 2025. Mr. Yunker stated it 35 most likely wouldn’t come before Council until August – September. This will go to the 36 Planning Commission after the Parks and Environmental Commission reviews again in June. 37 Chair Fee asked what would be done in the interim. Commissioner Holiday stated he has the 38 information he needs and would like to consider community engagement. Commissioner 39 Swiontek asked if the public hearing couldn’t happen before it reached the City Council. 40 Commissioner Holiday suggested Commissioners get input from residents individually and 41 report back to the Planning Commission and the City Council. Mr. Yunker stated if there were 42 comments to be passed on they would go to the Planning Commission first. Mr. Yunker asked 43 what the Commission would like to see before June when reconsidering. Commissioner Guest 44 suggested moving forward. Chair Fee agreed.