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Bee Hives A beehive is an enclosed structure where honey bee colonies live. There are various types of man-made beehives, with the most common hive used being the Langstroth hive (see Image 1). Image 1: Langstroth Hives Langstroth hives are rectangular boxes made " + ' '; from a variety of materials that are placed one ,';4 -4 on top of another with internal frames. Inside r^ the boxes, frames are hung parallel, typically 10 frames side to side. The frames are l .I41 s, interchangeable, making it relatively easy to - _ • - remove, inspect, and replace them without " - i I%ne hive co�ony� killing the bees. The honeycomb, hexagonal ' ;,,4-I .� . • cells made of beeswax, is where the bees store o , a.��- their food (honey and pollen) and where brood , _ - (eggs, larvae, and pupae) are housed. Hives y r only have one entrance/exit for bees. An w s ' , opening on a Langstroth hive is on the bottom .:='+ .�� 1tbn�+a"xe3s�' :a- box, is less than an inch in height, and extends for the length of the box. Potential Benefits of Beekeeping Based on the research of beekeeping, agriculture, and community gardens, staff believes that there are substantial benefits to urban beekeeping. Honeybees pollinate fruit and vegetable crops that we rely on for food, including many of the plants found in gardens in Pleasanton. Bees are not only important pollinators, but they produce honey, beeswax, propolis (a resin that is used in varnishes, chewing gum, and car wax), and other useful substances. Furthermore, honey produced in urban areas is likely to have less chemical residues than commercial honey, largely because of the use of pesticides and drugs in managing bee health in commercial agriculture (and lack thereof in small, local hives). As the movement to support and promote local agriculture has gained popularity, many cities have adopted ordinances allowing beekeeping (refer to the matrix in Attachment 2). Staffs research indicates that beekeeping is a use that is compatible with other suburban uses, as domestic bees are typically docile and nonaggressive, and become defensive only when their hives are directly threatened. In addition, allowing for beekeeping in urban locations is thought to be a potential means to mitigate Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon in which bee populations around the world (including in the western U.S) have declined in substantial numbers. Small-scale beekeeping is thought to be beneficial to bee populations because it incorporates a diverse range of flowering plants, is generally characterized by low pesticide use, is less dependent on monoculture agricultural crops, and requires less transportation of bee colonies over long distances. Page 3 of 9