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WIIEREAS, local queen bee breeders play a significant role in providing bee stock that <br /> is genetically diverse, more adaptive and resilient to new diseases, pests, and environmental <br /> changes, and strengthen and increase hive efficiency; and <br /> WHEREAS, rules pertaining to bees in the Hawai`i County Code, Chapter 4, regarding <br /> animals, and Chapter 25, regarding zoning, are vague, outdated, and limiting, and as such, <br /> negatively impact the island's beekeeping industry; and <br /> WHEREAS, the County ordinances must be updated to more accurately reflect local <br /> propagation and care of bees by backyard beekeepers and large-scale commercial apiarists, to <br /> promote best management practices, and to encourage and foster the next generation of <br /> beekeepers; and <br /> WHEREAS, Section 92-2.5, subsection. (a) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes provides that <br /> two council members may discuss between themselves matters relating to official board business <br /> to enable them to perform their duties faithfully, as long as no commitment to vote is made or <br /> sought and the two members do not constitute a quorum of their board; now, therefore; <br /> BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it <br /> hereby establishes an Apiary Stakeholder Working Group to examine and address beekeeping <br /> challenges at the industry and individual level through recommended updates to County <br /> ordinances. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz (Chair of the <br /> Committees on Planning, and Government Relations & Economic Development), and Council <br /> Member Herbert M. Richards III, (Chair of the Committee on Agriculture. Water, Land & <br /> Environmental Management), will convene and co-chair this working group, to also be <br /> comprised of representatives from the County of Hawai`i Planning Department and Corporation <br /> Counsel, as well as representatives with an apiary focus from the State Department of <br /> Agriculture, Department of Health, and the University of Hawai`i-Hilo. as well as a maximum of <br /> six community members from around the island involved in a range of beekeeping, from <br /> hobbyist and small scale to commercial and queen bee production, to be identified and invited by <br /> Council Member Kierkiewicz and Council Member Richards. <br /> 2 <br />