Council combs through bee ordinance

STICKY

Again, we’re just trying to come up with a compromise and I don’t want it to be overwhelming to anybody who wants to do it, but I want to protect the neighbors and protect those that are walking by, etc.”

Laura Liegois, FM City Manager

FORT MADISON – A request to revisit ordinances regarding honeybees within the city limits is creating -  well… can’t help this - a buzz.
At Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting, City Manager Laura Liegois said there was a request to adjust the city’s restrictions on live bee colonies for hobby or production output.
Liegois said Gary Grinstead, a former city police officer, brought the issue to the council. She said she’s done some research and talked with staff, including City Nuisance Officer Karl Jud.
“We really don’t want to make it complicated. We have enough ordinances that make things complicated and I think we’d all agree to that,” Liegois said.
She said 7.2.5(1) currently governs bee colonies and said that no one shall keep bees or harbor bees that disturb residents of the immediate neighborhood. There are no specifics on setbacks or protective measures.
Liegois said that can be interpreted different ways, either you can’t have bees, or you can’t have bees if they are disturbing residents. She said the staff needed to bring some feedback forward and offered some changes.
Those included allowing the colonies in residential or agriculture-zoned properties as long as there were no more than two hives per property, the hives must be at least 20 feet from the property line and no closer than 25 feet from public sidewalks and alleys, and a minimum of 30 feet from the principal building on the adjoining property.
They discussed a 25-foot setback from the property line. There must also be a flight path barrier of six feet to force bees to fly higher for safety and a barrier in front of any opening facing a property line within 30 feet. There is also language about having fresh water accessible near the colonies to prevent bees from congregating near water on nearby properties.
She said they didn’t want to require a registration as that would be more paperwork. She said the city doesn’t need to intervene at that level.
Mayor Matt Mohrfeld said there are other lots outside of residential and agriculture that are nice lots that could be used for bee colonies within the same parameters. Liegois said that language could be added to open it up.
“We really didn’t want to go to P&Z and make it a zoning issue,” she said.
Grinstead said he didn’t want a bunch of restrictions, but said he’s a hobbyist and doesn’t want a bunch of hives.
“I’m a hobbyist,” he said. “But I quite don’t understand. If you go to the website for laws in Iowa, most guidelines are six feet away from any property line. Not 25 feet.”
Liegois said there are communities that have 60-foot setbacks.
Councilman Matt Emmett said there are professionals out there that can provide more guidance to the city.
“We could also reach out to Lee County Conservation and Extension and they might have some recommended numbers for us, too. I think these would limit a lot of people who could really keep bees without impacting neighbors,” said at-large Councilman Matt Emmett.
Emmett said he hasn’t had trouble outside of 10 feet, but said sometimes honeybees can be agitated by vibrations and motors such as lawnmowers, trimmers, and other lawn equipment.
“Again, we’re just trying to come up with a compromise and I don’t want it to be overwhelming to anybody who wants to do it, but I want to protect the neighbors and protect those that are walking by etc.,” Liegois said.
Liegois said she would do a follow-up with the council after additional research and create a setback that made more sense.