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Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Department of Health & Human Services and any other relevant departments to implement within 30 days a live-time notification system to Council Offices regarding beehive/colony sightings reported to the Environmental Health Bureau.
DISCUSSION
The Bureau of Environmental Health under the Department of Health & Human Services is responsible for responding to reports of beehives/colonies in Long Beach. According to the bureau’s website, if a colony/hive is found and someone is stung, the public is to dial 911. To report bee swarms or hives, residents are to call the bureau’s office. If the sighting is on private property, the bureau then provides residents (via e-mail) information on private beekeepers that can assist in removing the bees. When bees are reported on public property, the bureau’s vector control program works with approved vendors to remove the bees and/or hive.
The city’s website acknowledges bees can pursue people for a ¼ mile (or more), they can sense a threat from people or animals at a 50-foot distance (or more) of a hive and can sense vibration from power equipment (100 feet or more). When feeling threatened, bees can attack rapidly and in large numbers. Depending on a person’s medical history, a bee sting can become a life-or-death medical emergency.
As a general precaution and to promote public safety, Council Office notification of these sightings seems prudent and consistent with other alerts already provided to Council Offices (WCLs, City Manager Alerts, Notification of Construction Work, Film Notices). Council Offices have the ability to assist the City in making the public aware of areas to avoid or approach with caution. The notification system requested should not exacerbate the workload city employees already have as the system can be as simple as an e-mail to the Council Office’s general inbox or a CC when providing residents information on private beekeepers o...
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