07-08-13 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY 4:31 P.M. JULY 8, 2013 Committee Members Present: Karen White, Dr. David Varner, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Tim Scott Other Council Present: Henry Davis, Jr., Oliver J. Davis, Gavin Ferlic, Derek Dieter Others Present: Vince Barletto, Tim Ives, Steve Lesniak, Cindy Kimbry, Sue Kessum, Sara Stewart, Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand, Erin Blasko, Kathryn Roos Agenda: Bill NO. 22 -13 — Honey Bees With all members of the Health and Public Safety present, Karen White opened the hearing at 4:31 p.m. On the agenda was one item, albeit a potentially controversial one, a bill to allow the raising of honey bees within the City represented in Bill No. 22 -13. Co- presenters were Councilmember Tim Scott who took the lead on the "bee" proposal, and Sara Stewart, Executive Director, of United Gardens. Tim led off speaking to the long collaborative effort behind the bill involving public and private groups. He went on to indicate similar successful efforts to allow bee hives in other cities. Sara Stewart then spoke to the phenomenon known as "colony collapse" all too familiar across the country in recent years. That this is significant is an understatement in light of the necessary pollination of all flowing plants done by bees. In other words, regardless of the reason for their decline, environmental, climatic, or otherwise, the bottom live is "no bees — no food." To avoid disaster efforts to encourage honey bee colony formation need to be pushed. In LaSalle Park for example Unity Garden efforts have quadrupled bee population. Vince Barletto was the first to speak in support of bee keeping. He said bees pollinate $15 billion every year in foodstuffs. He spoke of the realistic safeguards in the bill maintaining the non - aggressive nature of honey -bees. Tim Scott added that dozens of cities around the country encourage bee colonies. Oliver Davis asked if homeowners raising bees would be required to buy any insurance riders. The answer, was no. Derek Dieter asked how many new beekeepers were anticipat4ed. Tim Ives said there are about 150 numbers the beekeepers societies in St. Joe Co. Nationally, statistics show about one keeper per 8000 population. St. Joe County has just over 250,000 people with just over 100,000 in the City. Tim Scott added that he foresees hives in United Gardens everywhere helping to eliminate food deserts. Speaking in support of the bee keeping were both Steve Lesniak who emphasized the passive nature of honey bees, and Sue Kessum who said "killer bees' could not survive a winter climate.