07-08-13 Council Agenda & Packet

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BILL NO. ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE 3, SECTION 5-15 (a)AND (d) OF THE SOUTH BENZ)MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE INCLUSION OF NEW ARTICLE 10 ENTITLED HONEY BEE KEEPING REGULATIONS AND AMENDING SECTION 2-123 SCHEDULE OF ORDINANCE AND CODE VIOLATIONS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The South Bend Common Council notes that the current regulations addressing bee keeping within the city limits have not been updated in recent decades. It is acknowledged that the State of Indiana aids and assists in the "development and protection of the bee and honey industry..." as further addressed in Indiana Code 14-24-2. It is further acknowledged that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology maintains a government website posts and maintains information on honey bees at www.in. ov/dnr/entomolo/5746.htm] and also at www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo/2893.html On January 7, 2010, the Congressional Research Service provided to Congress a report on the "Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder". This 17-page document noted among other things that the State of Indiana was one of thirty-five states affected by the colony collapse disorder (CCD) where an "alarming number of bee colony losses and die-offs" began in late 2006. Symptoms of CCD include: rapid loss of adult worker bees; few or no dead bees found in the hive; presence of immature bee; small cluster bees with live queen present; and pollen and honey stores in hives which may be caused by pathogens, parasites, environmental stresses and poor nutrition. Part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Action Plan to address CCD include increased educational and outreach programs aimed at improving the "general bee health and reduce susceptibility to colony collapses and other disorders..." Current reports for 2013 show the highest level of commercial colony losses at an average of 55%. Much has changed in recent years with regard to municipal bee keeping regulations. Many municipalities have established bee keeping regulations, some of which include Evanston, IIlinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Salt Lake City since 2009; Provo, Utah since 2011; Madison, Wisconsin since 2012; Minneapolis, Minnesota since 2009; Milwaukee, Wisconsin since 2010; Spokane, Washington — just to name a few. In 2010, New York City lifted its ban on bee keeping within its city limits. New York City permits the honey-producing Apis mellifera bee, which can produce as much as 100 pounds or more of honey annually. This ordinance is believed to be in the best interests of the citizens of the City of South Bend, Indiana, by setting forth reasonable honey bee keeping regulations.