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estimated economic value in the billions of dollars, sank to the lowest recorded levels this winter,with an imminent risk of failure. Considerations: • Beekeeping in the United States dates back to the colonial days, when honey bees were first imported from Northern Europe. Early colonists kept bees for honey and wax • Pleasanton code allows growing of vegetables and fruit, however these require the honeybees. Honeybees are incredibly important to our food supply. Roughly one-third of the food we consume is directly or indirectly dependent upon pollination by honeybees • Productive gardens require pollinators and not allowing beekeeping in the city as well as the pressure on feral hives due to COD, mites, and chemicals being used to address west nile virus dramatically reduces bees in local gardens. Controlled residential beekeeping can help reverse this trend. • In 2006, a French beekeepers' study found that bees raised in the city were healthier and more productive than country bees. An ongoing study at the University of Bristol found that urban bees had a more varied diet; researchers claim that early findings indicated that urban bees often fare better than bees in contemporary farmland. • Bee populations in many parts of the world are rapidly declining; we are seeing a new surge in urban beekeeping. The activity has become so popular that the first-ever White House Beehive was installed near Michelle Obama's White House Garden in 2009. If there was high risk they would no place hives on the White House lawn. • Risk considerations: 1-3%of people in the US have severe allergic reactions to bee/wasp/yellow jacket, stinging ants stings—however if you have flowers in your backyard you will be exposed to these insects. Majority of stings come from wasp/yellow jackets due to their pursuit of your food, and the wide distribution of nests. • 3-4 %of people have severe allergic reactions to different foods such as peanuts—however kids and people eat peanuts regularly • Occasionally dogs bark or bite however this does not ban dogs. Cats also have free roam in neighborhoods however 10%of people are allergic to cats and dogs. • Pleasanton City public relations could benefit by allowing residential beekeeping and using this as an example on how Pleasanton supports grown local/backyard gardening/sustainable gardening • Urban agriculture, growing local, including beekeeping is one of the fastest growing trends in US cities. Other cities across the country, including New York, Denver, Milwaukee, and Santa Monica, Fremont, have recently legalized residential beekeeping. o New York City/Population:8.4M o San Jose/Population:982K o Fremont/Population: 221K 31 Page