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swarming. This would be achieved through providing a convenient water source on- site for the bees, installing a flyway barrier that directs the flight orientation of the bees and encourages the bees to fly above 6-feet when leaving the hive to forage for food, requeening, routine hive maintenance by the beekeeper, and an inspection from the City's code enforcement officer once the bees are on-site. G. Hive materials and/or equipment shall be stored in a sealed container or placed within a bee-proof enclosure. Beekeepers shall ensure that no burr comb, honey or related materials are dropped and/or left on the subject site such that it would attract pests. Staff analysis: To discourage pests, such as animals, insects, or feral bees, staff is proposing that the beekeeper maintain the area and store hive materials and/or equipment within an enclosure. H. Hive entrances shall face away from or be parallel to the nearest property line(s). Staff analysis: Staffs research has found that bees can be directed in their flight by orientation of the hive opening. While bees will decide where they pollinate, facing the hive entrance away from or parallel to the nearest property line could discourage bees from visiting the property closest to the hive when foraging for food. I. The maximum height of a hive shall not exceed four feet. Staff analysis: To limit the visibility of the hive and to prevent constructing large hive structures, staff is proposing that the hives do not exceed four feet in height. J. To prevent swarming, the beekeeper shall continuously manage the hive and requeen each hive at least once every two years. Staff analysis: Requeening can occur naturally within the hive when the bees feel that the queen is no longer productive. When natural requeening occurs, the new queen and younger bees will remain in the hive and the previous queen and older bees will swarm to find a new hive. Requeening by the beekeeper will help prevent swarming; therefore, staff is proposing that the hive be requeened once every two years. K. Upon securing a beekeeping permit, an inspection of the site and hives by the City's code enforcement officer, animal services officer, or their designee (collectively the inspector), is required at least one week, but no later than three weeks, after bringing the bees on-site. For such inspections, beekeeper shall be at the site to meet inspector. Staff analysis: Staff is proposing that the hives be inspected by the City's code enforcement officer after a beekeeping permit is granted in order to ensure that the beekeeper is meeting the performance standards (i.e., amount of hives, setbacks, P14-1276, Beekeeping Planning Commission Page 11 of 13