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Planning Commission <br />March 27, 2018 <br />Page 8 <br />Commission Jordan agreed, stating bees are the "new chickens" and felt it was a fad. <br />He discussed the chicken abandonment in Minneapolis and worries about that <br />occurring in Elk River. He didn't think that people would be too concerned with the <br />cost of keeping bees and felt these don't belong in a residential neighborhood, <br />worried about liability, disease, and abandonment. <br />Acting Latson-Vito stated her concerns about staff enforcement and didn't feel the <br />$50 fee would cover the amount of staff time and resources for management and <br />enforcement. She wondered if larger lot sizes would decrease enforcement time and <br />review and would probably generate less neighboring complaints. <br />Commissioner Rydberg asked for clarification about swarms. <br />Mr. Eiler explained why bees swarm and ways of reducing swarming. He also shared <br />information he received from the U of M beekeeping classes and learned the city of <br />Minneapolis has too many hives with not enough flowers to support their current <br />level of beekeepers. He also provided information about those residents keeping <br />bees without going through the permitting process. <br />Mr. Carlton stated staff removed disease management from the proposed ordinance <br />because he wasn't sure how staff would enforce those requirements, trying to <br />minimize staff involvement. <br />Commission Jordan asked if the city attorney should review whether or not the city <br />can legally tell people who can or can't keep bees. <br />Councilmember Wagner questioned if staff can regulate this ordinance as presented <br />and is staff pretending to know more about beekeeping than they really do. She felt <br />she learned more from Mr. Eiler this evening. She stated she doesn't know much <br />about beekeeping but does know a lot about families with allergies and was <br />concerned about staff regulating this ordinance. <br />Mr. Carlton stated staff received a model ordinance from the U of M Bee Research <br />Facility, which started with regulations that bee experts suggested, and removed <br />pieces that staff felt they wouldn't need to regulate. He stated he felt they are at a <br />point where they have a good ordinance but new ordinances aren't perfect, stating <br />the chicken ordinance will be coming back for modifications from what staff has <br />learned from implementation. He indicated former staff BtieAnna Simon went <br />through the class with the view point of regulating bees and gained a great deal of <br />knowledge. <br />Councilmember Wagner stated she felt the ordinance as presented is a good start but <br />wants to ensure the city has enough knowledgeable about the subject. Mr. Eiler <br />asked for clarification on the parcels over 5 acres not requiring a permit and would <br />residents still have to comply with the regulations of the ordinance. <br />1 0 ER ER R1 <br />MATURE <br />