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ATTACHMENT 3 Acting Chair Ritter inquired if an annual inspection is done by the Code Enforcement Officer or only if the neighbors call to complain. Ms. Amos replied that it would be just as a neighbor calls. She stated that people call when they see swarms of bees in their neighborhood. She noted, however, that honey bees are fairly docile. Acting Chair Ritter inquired if there have been a number of complaints about been in Pleasanton over the past few years. Ms. Amos replied that calls have been received, mostly during spring and summer when the bees are most active and foraging for food. She noted that the bee hive she and Mr. Weinstein visited were actually bees from Fairlands School in Pleasanton that were relocated to unincorporated San Ramon by Mr. Browne. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. Gary Monzo stated that he was at the meeting when Mr(Browne made his presentation before the Commission and that he is very much in support of the idea'of'residential beekeeping. He indicated that this is an excellent-idea'and is very impressed with staffs report. He noted that he has to license his dogs and pay renewal fees every three years and suggested that it be,the same for beekeeping. Owen Browne, speakmgon behalf of his'father, David-Browne,who is on a business trip and could not attend the'meeting, stated that over the summer he did a lot of beekeeping with hisfather. He.indicated that it was a pretty interesting activity and something that not a lot of people get to experience. Mr. Browne stated that beekeeping in the United States dates back to the colonial days when`honey bees were' brought over from Europe by early colonists who kept hives of bees. He noted that the.Pleasanton Municipal Code allows for the growing of vegetables.and fruit, and these require pollinators, which is done mainly by honey bees. He added that it is important,to have residential beekeeping with the decline of wild honey bees. A,<-; 1 Mr. Browne stated that the!City's public relations could benefit from residential beekeeping by using this as;an example of how Pleasanton supports local backyard gardening and sustainable/gardening. He noted that urban agriculture is a really growing trend, including beekeeping, and some cities such as New York, Denver, Milwaukee, Santa Monica, and Fremont have legalized it. He added that these cities have huge populations, and there have been no major problems with beekeeping. Commissioner O'Connor asked Mr. Browne how large his father's lot is. Mr. Browne replied that he believes it is a half-acre lot. DRAFT EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES, 1/28/2015 Page 5 of 14