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Denver City Council clears flight path for urban bee enthusiasts

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 17, 2008 at 7:08 p.m.

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Emily Rice, 24, died at the Denver Jail after being arrested in 2006.

Emily Rice, 24, died at the Denver Jail after being arrested in 2006.

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Bee enthusiasts were buzzing with joy Monday after the City Council approved a proposal that allows Denver residents to keep honeybees in their backyards.

Most council members were sweet on the idea and voted 10-2 in favor of the ordinance change.

But it was a little more sticky for Councilwomen Marcia Johnson and Jeanne Faatz, who cast the dissenting votes.

Johnson said she was concerned that neighbors, including people who are allergic to bees, didn't have to be notified if the person living next door wanted to become a beekeeper. Faatz also raised safety concerns and read portions of a letter written by a police officer who said one sting could make him ill and several could be fatal.

But some of their colleagues said they encounter bees all summer and have never been stung.

"As a gardener, I love to watch bees. I work side-by-side with them," said Councilman Charlie Brown.

Other council members said they didn't expect an influx of beehives if the proposal passed.

"It's never going to replace the family dog," Councilwoman Carla Madison said.

The city will now allow up to two honeybee hives as a "use by right." The hives must be in the rear third of a lot and screened, such as by a fence, so the bees have to fly over a 6-foot barrier and hopefully out of neighboring yards, among other conditions.

Before, the city permitted honeybee hives, but beekeepers had to seek permission from the zoning administrator.

Some of the 17 people who swarmed council chambers to speak in favor of the proposal admitted they had beehives without the city's permission.

Others, however, said they wanted to learn more about bees.

"I don't have a beekeeping confession to give this evening," said Julie Schwab, adding that "the planet needs bees and Denver needs bees."

David Brand said bees are not aggressive unless they're defending their hives.

"Bees do not bark or make noise at all times of the day," he said. "Bees just work silently in the daylight when it is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit."

The council also approved a companion ordinance that removes honeybees from the definition of wild or dangerous animal in the city's municipal code.

In other business:

* The council approved a $3 million settlement with the parents of Emily Rae Rice, the 24-year-old woman who bled to death in the city jail despite pleading for help for hours.

Faatz voted against the settlement, saying it was "an excessive amount for taxpayers to pay."

Attorney Darold Killmer, who represents Rice's parents, Sue Garber and Roy Rice, said he respected Faatz's opinion but disagreed with her.

"We're very gratified with the 11 to 1 vote," he said. Garber and Roy Rice are expected to discuss the settlement during a news conference today.

The settlement between the city and Rice's parents comes six months after Denver Health Medical Center paid the family $4 million to settle a separate lawsuit.

* The council approved a proposal to allow churches and religious institutions to sell items such as Christmas trees and pumpkins as an accessory use but only on an occasional basis.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

Comments

  • November 17, 2008

    8:31 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    EZBakeOven writes:

    I dunno, she seemed to be the cause of all this misery, so I'm not in favor of this huge settlement. She did not deserve to be ignored, but yet, she started the chain of events. Bash away!

  • November 17, 2008

    8:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    WHATRIGHTS writes:

    As I would agree she did start the events that led to this, it is no reason to allow her to die while she screamed for help, that is plain torture for no good reason. My condolences to her family!

    My real heartburn is how many times does the taxpayers have to be accountable for the "civil servants", the people involved should have their paychecks garnished until the debt is paid to this family, just like anybody else....

  • November 17, 2008

    9:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Uno writes:

    Denver is becoming a cash cow for lawbreakers and their families.

  • November 17, 2008

    10:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    noble1 writes:

    Hey morons, a girl died as a ward of the county. Don't you want to know that your loved ones will be SAFE in the hands of authorities? Obviously none of you have ever seen the inside of the county jail or have any idea as to what goes on in there at the hands on the Sheriffs. Other than a few deputies, the majority of them are worse than the inmates themselves. Emily Rae Rice died BECAUSE of the complete indifference of the Sheriffs Department and it's lack of properly trained deputies. The 3 million dollar settlement is a joke and the City and County of Denver knows it. They should be held accountable and charges filed against the deputies that killed her.

  • November 17, 2008

    10:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    NeilT writes:

    Uno writes: "Denver is becoming a cash cow for lawbreakers and their families."

    You're correct, Uno. Here's all you need to do:

    1. Break the law
    2. Get taken to jail
    3. Wait for Denver employees to do something really stupid
    4. Collect your cash

    It seems this plan, or a slight variation, is working more and more often. This is because Denver law enforcement, Denver jails and/or Denver health service are finding creative ways to do stupid things.

    This girl didn't deserve the death penalty for a DUI. Folks on death row get better treatment, even during the actual execution, than this girl received. Through extreme negligence and arrogance, those in charge of her acted as judge, jury and executioner.

    Judging by some of the comments, you folks are okay with that scenario. I just hope that you or a loved one are never in a similar situation.

  • November 18, 2008

    12:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    noble1 writes:

    OMG, did they really jack the story? This is censorship, truly.

  • November 18, 2008

    1:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    noble1 writes:

    It's like the same person who erased the 64 seconds from the deputies tapes is now trying to hide this story under a bee story. Interesting. Why hasn't anyone asked if Emily Rice was assaulted by the Sheriff Deputies during the missing video? Because that would mean that she was MURDERED!