I know there are a few people interested in the continuing saga of the
Aurora Colorado beekeeping ordinance so I thought I would do an
update.

At this point the news is good.  The committee is working on a draft
ordinance that is based on the Fort Collins Colorado ordinance.  It
will be somewhat simpler than Fort Collins.  In the next few weeks
(3-8) the committee will present the draft to the entire city council
in a study session.  Following the study session a final ordinance
will be written.  The final will then be presented to the public in a
city Council meeting.  The ordinance will then be voted on at that
meeting by the council.

At this time there is good support for beekeeping in the council and
the ordinance will hopefully pass without any onerous amendments.
This is a good bill and a fabulous step forward for beekeeping in
Aurora.  Hopefully it and the many other favorable beekeeping laws
will help other municipalities to follow suit.

I was told at one point to just be quiet because there was no law
against beekeeping in Aurora and not to bring attention to it.  Just
leave things like they are.  However there were people who wanted
beekeeping banned and they weren't going to "leave things as they are"
Thankfully by the grace of God a series of things happened that
allowed myself and others to first prevent the banning of beekeeping
(this was written into a large animal control ordinance and was only
one sentence, but it was a clear ban in that sentence.)  From there,
through education, the council came around to see the value of
beekeeping.

I urge all of the urban beekeepers who live in municipalities that
don't have a beekeeping ordinance to get to know your city council
members, find out how the laws are made in your community and start to
get a favorable law where you live.  You CAN do it and if you don't
someone with the opposite desires may get to the council first.  Don't
wait till someone gets a law banning beekeeping passed to start doing
something.  Councilman Bob LeGare, who has been the ordinance advocate
from the begriming, said " be respectful to council even if they
disagree.  There is no surer way to be defeated that to have someone
get up and call council a bunch of jerks"  He also pointed out that
threats aren't very effective in winning support either.

Good luck to any who wish to do this where they live.  The more cities
that pass favorable ordinances, the easier it should be for others as
there is precedent being made.  Aurora has a population of 285,000
residents and is Colorado's second largest city.

Tom Patterson

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