2020-10-06 CC Agenda Packet - ITEM #E8 - PRESENTATION - Bee KeepingCITY OF
ELSEGUNDO
Urban Bee Keeping
And
Recommendation
Environmental Committee
October 6t", 2020
Ask
To amend City ordinances to allow for urban beekeeping.
Executive Summary
Current EI Segundo ordinances list bees under nuisance ordinances along with chickens and
other livestock but does not include another ordinance that allows safe beekeeping as it does for
chickens. Nearby cities such as Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, and Torrance allow for hives with
very specific safety measures as well as registering and permitting of the hives with the city.
With the current pandemic outbreak, we have all witnessed firsthand the challenges to our local
food security with the extensive lines and scarcity at the grocery store. The tremendous surge of
interest in growing food crops has left nurseries depleted of vegetable seedlings, fruit trees, and
sometimes even soil. No matter how much we plant, we need bees because one in three bites of
food we eat depends entirely on bees. With bees pollinating 80% of the world's plants including
90 different food crops, they are a crucial piece to the equation for sustainability.
ELSEGUNDO
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 2
BEES PERFORM APPROXIMATELY BOOK OF ALL POLLINATION WORLDWIDE.
FLOWERS
VALUE
! Z•rl6n_. OF BEE
POLLINATION
70
75%
'iD0�o—s
300
MILLION BILLION
MAJOR '
FOOD SUPPLY CROPS&x
A. .
A WHOPPING
42% OF U.S.
BEE COLONIES
DIED IN 2015.
PERCENTAGE OF
HONEYBEE COLONY
LOSS BY STATE
FOR 2014-2015
>_60% >_50% >_40% >_30% >_20% N/A
0
pesticide peisoning from an
onslaught of toric insecticides
used on field crops and home
gardens.
MASS USE OF DANGEROUS
PESTICIDES
0
Climate change disrupts the timing, between bees
and bloom; e g When bees come out of
hibernation, important flowers they need to start
the season are not available as a food supply.
CONSTANT CHANGE IN
CLIMATE
0
Tenacious parasites like Vnrroa mites and small
hive be erles can take heavy rolls on colonies, as
can diseases such as Nosema and American
Foulbraod,
RAPIDLY SPREADING PESTS L
DISEASES
0
Behemoth, single -crop plantings create food
deserts for bees and other pollinators unable to
thrice on a single Food supply. Diversity of
vegetarion Is key to a healthy bee habitat
INCREASE OF
MONOCULTURE
5000
FOOD YEARS OLD
• OUR PLANET
FAAke
R STORK
•
XCENNG ohtV *MTRICAN
BrEs EATS
roops'.
RAW HONEY PASTEURIZED
particulates reroarn.
i1■
W -9m
If you llw.
...... ... 0-t
r. , n•,sn of prr,P oring r ry,t,LI—t nn
r 6 1
that ri—
honey d: nique Lmf,cM
Fit Jkl
4'..
LA COUNTY REGULATIONS
Regulations • Register as a beekeeper within County of Los Angeles
• Maximum on hive for every 2500 sqft lot area
• Hives minimum 5 ft from lot lines. 20 ft from public
right of way/private street
• Hive entrances face away from or parallel to nearest lot
line
• 6 ft wall or vegetative barrier between hives and adj
lots, or placement of hives minimum 8 ft above grade
(groud level) of adj lot
ELtiEGUN DO
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 8
Proposed Permit Requirements
• Register as required by the California Food and Agricultural
Code and the County of Los Angeles.
• Exhibit proof of some knowledge of beekeeping.
• House one colony per 3,750 S.F. of total lot area; maximum of
two colonies allowed per lot.
• Public Notification (TBD range of 300' to 500' in radius) for
residents &property owners for issuance of the permit and
yearly subsequent renewals.
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 10
Position of the Hive(s)
• Minimum (TBD range 10'-15' distance) from lot lines and 15'
from public ROW.
• Entrance of hive to be faced away from or parallel to nearest lot
line.
• 6' tall wall or vegetative barrier between hives(s) and adjacent
lots, or placement of the hive(s) minimum of 8' above the grade
of adjacent lot. This wall has to be consistent with Zoning
regulations and directs bees to safe heights when leaving lot.
ELSEGCVDO
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. Ei Segundo, CA 90245 11
Hive Management Requirements
• Proper maintenance.
• Equipment storage.
• Adequate water supply.
Re -queen the colony.
• Subsequent to any swarming or aggressive behavior
• At least every other year
• TBD: Warning sign to be installed on property, clearly visible by the public (not
required for dogs or chickens, FYI).
• TBD: Liability Insurance coveragge� needs to have a minimum dollar amount to be
determined from the City's Risk -Manager, and proof of insurance needs to be
provided to the City prior to the issuance of the permit/renewal of the permit every
yyear. The insurance policy must cover any injury to members of the
householdlguests as well as any pedestrian or neighbor, and must indemnify the
City.
E l.4,IAA V DO
City of EI Segundo 1350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 12
Inspection
• Prior to issuance of a permit, property would need to be
inspected by a certified beekeeper (hired as consultant,
subsidized by permit fee).
• Colony to be inspected every year by a certified beekeeper prior
to renewal of the permit.
• If there are
any complaints from the
residents, these
may be
grounds to
revoke the permit and/or
to not renew the
permit.
EI ,.SEGC%bU
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 13
City Tasks
• Prepare new ordinance in coordination with Environmental
Committee and citizens to amend City Code to establish the
permit program.
• Need to hire consultant for detailed requirements and for
inspections
• Establish permit fee to cover staff time in full for processing the
permits/inspections/public notification, etc. This fee is expected
to be high.
ELS E. GUN DO
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 14
Recommendation:
Direct staff to conduct the necessary due
diligence and report back to City Council
with a Residential Bee Keeping program
recommendation
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 15
Questions?
ELSEGUN 00
City of EI Segundo 1 350 Main St. EI Segundo, CA 90245 16