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By Miriam Raftery
September 13, 2023 (La Mesa) – At last night’s La Mesa City Council meeting, Councilman Jack Shu proposed replacing the city’s restrictive beekeeping ordinance with a more expanded ordinance patterned after the county of San Diego to enable backyard beekeeping.
Bees are important for pollination. Allowing domestic beehives can help prevent wild bees from nesting in inappropriate areas; hives must be inspected and are strongly regulated under the county ordinance, Shu said.
Two members of the public spoke.
Daryl Kennedy noted that San Diego became a “bee city” in August, the largest city in the United States to do so following a 10-year backyard beekeeping program that’s been “extremely successful” and supported by universities, Kennedy said, adding, “We seek out bees from colder climates where the Africanized bees are unable to survive.”
Carlos Richardson, a San Diego Beekeeping Society board member who operates Mt. Helix Bees, said he establishes and manages bees in people’s backyard and keeps them non-aggressive. Otherwise, Africanized bill will invade hives.
“I do a lot of bee removals all over the county,” he said, adding that in La Mesa, many have reported bees under sheds or other areas. Some want to have beekeeping hives, but the city of La Mesa doesn’t allow that, Richardson said.
Carefully regulated beekeeping can also keep out diseases that harm bees, which are considered livestock under California state regulations.
Councilmember Laura Lothian asked if all the bees maintained by beekeepers create honey. Richardson replied, “yes.”
Shu moved to approve the ordinance. Councilman Colin Parent seconded the motion.
Mayor Mark Arapostathis quipped, “We’ll still be an A+ city, but we’ll `bee’ friendly.”
The motion passed 4-0, with Councilmember Patricia Dillard absent.
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