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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance - 2-2014 - Adding City Code Section 9.73, Relating to Honey Bees - 01/30/2014CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 2-2014 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA, AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 9 BY ADDING SECTION 9.73 RELATING TO HONEY BEES AND AMENDING SECTIONS 9.08 AND 9.11 RELATING TO HONEY BEES; AND AMENDING AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE CHAPTER 1 AND SECTION 9.99 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN PENALTY PROVISIONS. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS: Section 1. City Code Chapter 9 is amended by adding Section 9.73 to read as follows: SECTION 9.73. KEEPING OF HONEYBEES. Subd. 1. Definitions. As used in this Section, the following definitions shall apply: A. "Apiary" means the assembly of one (1) or more colonies of honey bees on a single lot. B. "Apiary site" means the lot upon which an apiary is located. C. "Beekeeper" means a person who: (i) owns or has charge of one (1) or more colonies of honey bees; and/or (ii) who owns or controls a lot on which a colony is located whether or not the person is intentionally keeping honey bees. D. "Beekeeping equipment" means anything used in the operation of an apiary, such as hive bodies, supers, frames, top and bottom boards and extractors. E. "Colony" means an aggregate of honey bees consisting principally of workers, but having, when perfect, one (1) queen and at times drones, brood, combs, and honey. F. "Hive" means the receptacle inhabited by a colony. G. "Honey bee" means all life stages of the common domestic honey bee, apis mellifera speCIes. H. "Lot" means one unit of a recorded plat, subdivision or registered land survey, or a recorded parcel described by metes and bounds. 1. "Nucleus colony" means a small quantity of honey bees with a queen housed in a smaller than usual hive box designed for a particular purpose, and containing no supers. 1. "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, company, limited liability company, other entity, or unincorporated association. K. "Registrant" means any registered beekeeper and any person who has applied for approval of a beekeeping registration. L. "Rooftop" means the uppermost section of a primary or accessory structure of at least one full story and at least twelve (12) feet in height. Areas including but not limited to decks, patios and balconies shall not be considered a rooftop. M. "Swarming" means the process where a queen bee leaves a colony with a large group of worker bees. N. "Undeveloped property" means: (i) any lot that is not improved with a structure that has or is required to have a certificate of occupancy; and (ii) all streets and highways. O. "Unusual Aggressive Behavior" means any instance in which unusual aggressive characteristics such as stinging or attacking without provocation occurs. Subd. 2. Registration. A No beekeeper shall keep honey bees in the City without a current registration from the City of Eden Prairie Police Department. B. Each beekeeper shall apply for registration with the Police Department and receive approval of the registration prior to bringing any honey bees into the City. C. Beekeepers operating within the City prior to the effective date of this Section shall have four (4) weeks from the date this Section goes into effect to apply for a registration with the Police Department. D. The application for registration shall be upon the form provided by the City. If a beekeeper relocates a hive or colony to a new apiary site the beekeeper shall apply for an updated registration, prior to the relocation, on the form provided by the City. All information required by the forms shall be answered fully and completely by the beekeeper. E. The City beekeeping registration shall be valid until December 31 of each calendar year and shall be renewed by the registrant prior to expiration each year by submitting a renewal form to the Police Department on the form provided by the City. A person no longer keeping honey bees in the City shall notify the Police Department within thirty (30) days. F. Upon the initial registration, annual renewal, and any updated registration, each beekeeper shall allow the Chief of Police or designee the right to inspect any apiary and apiary site for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Section. G. Upon receipt of an application for initial or updated registration the City shall send notice to all owners oflots within two-hundred (200) feet of any lot line of the apiary site(s) identified on the application no less than two weeks prior to a decision to approve or deny the registration. Any person may submit written comments regarding the application to the Police Chief. Within thirty (30) days of an application the Chief of Police or designee shall approve or deny the registration. Subd. 3. Required Conditions. A. Honey bee colonies shall be kept in hives with removable frames, which frames shall be kept in sound and usable condition. B. Each colony on the apiary site shall be provided with a convenient source of water located on the apiary site. Every effort should be made to ensure that the water source is free of chemicals that are typically found in tap water, such as chlorine and fluoride. C. Materials from a hive or colony which might encourage the presence of honey bees, such as wax comb, shall be promptly disposed of in a sealed container or placed within a building or other bee-proof enclosure. D. For each colony permitted to be maintained under this Section, there may also be maintained upon the same apiary site, one nucleus colony in a hive structure not to exceed one standard 9-5/8 inch depth 10-frame hive body, with no supers. E. Beekeeping equipment shall be maintained in good condition, including keeping the hives painted if they have been painted but are peeling or flaking, and securing unused equipment from weather, potential theft or vandalism, and occupancy by swarming honey bees. F. Hives shall be continuously managed to provide adequate living space for their resident honey bees in order to prevent swarming. G. In any instance in which a colony exhibits unusual aggressive behavior, it shall be the duty of the beekeeper to promptly re-queen the colony. Whenever possible, queens shall be selected from European stock bred for gentleness and non-swarming characteristics. H. Fruit trees and other flowering trees which are located on an apiary site shall not be sprayed, while in full bloom, with any substance which is injurious to honey bees. Subd. 4. Colony Location. A. Excluding lots that are zoned Rural and are ten (10) acres or more in size, no hive shall occupy any front yard. For the purposes of this Section, a comer lot shall be considered to have two (2) front yards. B. In no instance shall any part of a hive be located within ten (10) feet of any lot line. C. In no instance shall any part of a hive be located within ten (10) feet of any dwelling unit in any zoning district. D. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, in each instance where any part of a hive is kept within twenty-five (25) feet of a lot line of the apiary site, the beekeeper shall establish and maintain along said lot line screening consisting of a flyway barrier of at least six (6) feet in height. 1. The flyway barrier may consist of a wall, fence, dense vegetation or a combination there of, such that honey bees will fly over rather than through the material to reach the colony. 2. If a flyway barrier of dense vegetation is used, the initial planting may be four (4) feet in height, so long as the vegetation reaches a height of six (6) feet or higher within two (2) years of installation. 3. The flyway barrier must continue parallel to the lot line of the apiary site for ten (10) feet in both directions from the hive, or contain the hive or hives in an enclosure at least six (6) feet in height. 4. A flyway barrier is not required if the hive is located on a rooftop or if the lot abutting the lot line of the apiary site where the flyway barrier would be required is: (a) undeveloped property; or (b) zoned Rural and is 10 acres or more in size. All apiaries located within the R, R-I and RM districts shall comply with Eden Prairie City Code Section 11.65 pertaining to Home Occupation. Subd. 5. Colony Density. A. Every lot within the City shall be limited to the following number of colonies based on the size of the lot: 1. ~acre or smaller 2 colonies 2. more than ~ acre to % acre =4 colonies 3. more than % acre to 1 acre = 6 colonies 4. more than 1 acre to 5 acres = 8 colonies 5. more than 5 acres = no restriction B. Regardless oflot size, if all lots within two hundred (200) feet of any lot line of the apiary site are undeveloped property, there shall be no limit to the number of colonies that can be kept on the apiary site. However, upon the development of any lot within two hundred (200) feet of any lot line of the apiary site, the apiary site shall comply with the restriction set forth in this Subdivision 5. C. If any person removes honey bees from locations where they are not desired, that person shall not be considered in violation of the restriction in this Subdivision 5, ifthe person temporarily houses the honey bees on the apiary site of a beekeeper registered under this Section for no more than 30 days and remains at all times in compliance with the other provisions of this Section. Subd. 6. Inspection. A. Upon prior notice to the owner of the apiary site, the Chief of Police or designee shall have the right to inspect any apiary for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Section. B. It shall be deemed a violation of this Section for any person to resist, impede or hinder the Chief of Police or designee in the performance of their duties in inspecting any apiary and apiary site. Subd. 7. Denial, Revocation or Suspension. A. Beekeeping registrations under the provisions of this Section may be denied, revoked or suspended by the Chief of Police or designee after notice and the right to request a hearing, for any of the following causes: 1. Fraud, misrepresentation or false statements on any application or registration form or during the course of the registered activity. 2. The keeping of honey bees in an unlawful manner or a manner so as to constitute a breach of peace, or to constitute a menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the public. 3. Any violation of this Section. B. Notice of the denial, revocation or suspension, shall be in writing, specifically setting forth the grounds for denial, revocation or suspension and the registrant's right to request a hearing before the City Manager or designee. Such notice shall be mailed to the registrant at the address listed on the application. A registrant may request a hearing by filing a written request for hearing addressed to the City Manager within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice. A hearing shall be held within thirty (30) days of the request. The City shall notify the registrant in writing of the time, date and location of the hearing at least five (5) days prior to the hearing. Within fifteen (15) days after the hearing the City Manager or designee shall issue a written decision and that decision shall be final. A copy of the decision shall be mailed to the registrant. If the registrant fails to request a hearing within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice, the denial, suspension, or revocation shall automatically be deemed final. A revocation or suspension of a registration shall not be effective until issuance of a decision by the City Manager or designee. No appeal is allowed to the City Council under Section 2.80 of the City Code from a decision of the City Manager under this Section. Subd. 8. Appeal. A. A person may object to a registration at any time within thirty (30) days of approval of an initial or updated registration by addressing to the City Manager a written request for a hearing before the City Manager or designee. The hearing shall be held within thirty (30) days of the request. The City shall notify in writing the person requesting the hearing and the person whose registration is objected to, date and location of the hearing at least five (5) days prior to the hearing. Within fifteen (15) days after the hearing the City Manager or designee shall issue a written decision and that decision shall be final. A copy of the decision shall be mailed to the person who requested the hearing and the person whose registration was objected to. No appeal is allowed to the City Council under Section 2.80 of the City Code from a decision of the City Manager under this Section. Section 2. City Code Chapter 9, Section 9.08, Subd. 1 A is hereby amended by deleting the words "and honey bees" and inserting the word "and" before the words "guinea hens". Section 3. City Code Chapter 9, Section 9.08, Subd. 5 is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the sentence the words ", provided however this provision does not apply to honey bees kept pursuant to City Code Section 9.73". Section 4. City Code Chapter 9, Section 9.08, Subd. 7 A is hereby amended by deleting the words "except honey bees". Section 5. City Code Chapter 9, Section 9.08, Subd. 8 is hereby amended by deleting the words ", except honey bees,". Section 6. City Code Chapter 9, Section 9.11, Subd. 11 C 8 is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the sentence the words ", except for honey bees kept pursuant to City Code Section 9.73". Section 7. City Code Chapter 1 entitled "General Provisions and Definitions Applicable to the Entire City Code Including Penalty for Violation" and Section 9.99 entitled "Violation a Misdemeanor" are hereby adopted in their entirety, by reference, as though repeated verbatim herein. Section 8. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and publication. FIRST READ at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Eden Prairie on the 7th day of January 2014 and finally read and adopted and ordered published at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City on the 21 st day of January, 2014. PUBLISHED in the Eden Prairie News on January 30, 2014. CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 2-2014 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA, AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 9 BY ADDING SECTION 9.73 RELATING TO HONEY BEES AND AMENDING SECTIONS 9.08 AND 9.11 RELATING TO HONEY BEES; AND AMENDING AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE CHAPTER 1 AND SECTION 9.99 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN PENALTY PROVISIONS. The following is only a summary of Ordinance No. 2-2014. The full text is available for public inspection by any person during regular office hours at the Office of the City Clerk. SUMMARY: The Ordinance adds City Code Section 9.73 relating to the keeping of honey bees within the City. The Ordinance excludes honey bees from coverage under certain portions of City Code Sections 9.08 and 9.11. The Ordinance incorporates, by reference, City Code Chapter 1 and City Code Section 9.99, which contain provisions relating to penalties. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect upon pUblication. ATTEST: PUBLISHED in the Eden Prairie News on January 30, 2014. CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 2-2014 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA, AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 9 BY. ADDING SECTION 9.73 RELATING TO HONEY BEES AND AMENDING SBCTIONS 9.08 AND 9.11 RELATING to HONEY BEES; AND AMENDING AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE CHAPTER 1 AND SECTION 9.99 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN PENALTY PROVISIONS. The following is only a summary of Ordinance No. 2-2014. The full text is available for public inspection by any person during regularoffice hours at the Office of the City Clerk. SUMMARY: The Ordinance adds City Code Section 9.73 relating to the keeping of honey bees within the Citlt The Ordinance excludes honey bees from coverage under certain portions of City Code Sections 9.08 and 9.11. The Ordinance incorporates, by reference, City Code Chapter 1 and City Code Section 9.99, which contain provisions relating to penalties. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect upon publication. Nancy Tyra·Lukens, M8.yor ATTEST: Kathleen Porta, City Clerk (Published in the Eden Prairie News on Thursday; January 30, 2014; No. 8615) Affidavit of Publication Southwest Newspapers State of Minnesota ) )SS. County of Hennepin ) Laurie A. Hartmann, being duly sworn, on oath says that she is the authorized agent of the publisher of the newspaper known as the Eden Prairie News and has full knowledge ofthe facts herein stated as follows: (A) This newspaper has complied with the requirements constituting qualification as a legal newspaper, as provided by Minnesota Statute 331A.02, 33IA.07, and other applicable laws, as amended. (B) The printed public notice that is attached to this Affidavit and identified as N0tilto / I was published on the date or dates and in the newspaper stated in the attached No' andSaid Notice is hereby incorporated as part of this Affidavit. Said notice was cut from the columns of the newspaper specified. Printed below is a copy of the lower case alphabet from A to Z, both inclusive, and is hereby acknowledged as being the kind and size oftype used in the composition and publication of the Notice: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz /~d.~ ( / Laurie A. Hartmann -~_ . .r' Subscribed and sworn before me on thi'~YOf~2014 JY}M~E ,JEANNETTE BARK ~O'1..rr" P~BL!C· M''1NESOTA ~COI,I~ISSlCN S\,P:R~S 01TJ'B ~..c;A~N olic ,I / RATE INFORMATION Lowest classified rate paid by commercial users for comparable space ... $31.20 per column inch Maximum rate allowed by law for the above matter ................................... $31.20 per column inch Rate actually charged for the above matter ............................................... $12.59 per column inch