To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
License for Beehive Storage at Healdsburg Transfer Station
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure to execute the proposed License Agreement between the County of Sonoma as Licensor and Tauzer Apiaries, Inc. as Licensee to allow for beehive storage next to the Healdsburg Transfer Station property, 166 Alexander Valley Rd, Healdsburg, CA
end
Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SPI) Department is requesting Board approval of a license with Tauzer Apiaries, Inc. to use a portion of County property adjacent to the Healdsburg Transfer Station to seasonally place and maintain honeybee hives.
Discussion:
The proposed honeybee hive sites will be located on vacant, rural County land adjacent to the Healdsburg Transfer Station, (APNs 091-070-038 and 091-070-037). All hives will be no less than 100 feet from an occupied structure, entrance, exit, or any area where the public may be. The honeybee hives will be regularly inspected by the Licensee to monitor colony health metrics, with nutritional needs and disease monitoring assessed in accordance with industry standards and the guidelines of the Bee Informed Partnership’s Commercial Beekeeping best practices protocols, with the Licensee to store only non-Africanized honeybee hives and material related to the keeping of bees on the property.
Licensee has stated that a total of 95-120 hives will be seasonally stored at a single site. The hives will rest on pallets, be delivered by truck and moved by forklift, and will occupy an area of approximately 5,000 square feet of flat land (approximately 50’ x 100’ area). Due to Licensee’s need for forklift access, the proposed sites will be located in disturbed roadside areas adjacent to Healdsburg Transfer Station utility roads and in remote portions of the property. There may be two sites used by the Licensee, one during the wet season and one during the dry season.
The Sonoma County Public Infrastructure Department was contacted by Licensee in September 2022 seeking County land located between Windsor and Healdsburg to place and maintain honey bee colonies seasonally. Negotiations between the County and Licensee continued through October, when License Agreement terms were tentatively agreed to.
License Agreement. The proposed License Agreement between Tauzer Apiaries as Licensee, and the County of Sonoma as Licensor contains the following key provisions:
1. Three (3) year License Agreement, commencing on February 1, 2023, and expiring at midnight on January 31, 2026
2. At the end of the Initial Term, the Agreement will automatically renew itself from year to year ("Renewal Term") for a period not to exceed two (2) years
3. Annual rental charge of $5.00 per hive, payable in advance
4. Either Party may terminate the Agreement for any reason or no reason upon sixty (60) days' written notice
SPI Integrated Waste Division staff assisted SPI Real Estate Division staff and the Licensee in site selection, including providing a tour of sites proposed by Integrated Waste Division staff, and have confirmed that the proposed sites do not interfere with and are not needed for SPI operations.
Project Costs and Construction Schedule. None.
Procedural Authority. Pursuant to Government Code section 25537 and Sonoma County Code sections 2-171 and 2-172, County real property may be licensed for use by other parties for less than ten years term and when rental values are less than $10,000 per month. No competitive bidding is required for such licenses, and subject property may be made available at less than market rate upon determination by the Board of Supervisors of considerations such as community interest, that the subject property is not needed by the County for the proposed term, and that any use will not interfere with County use or purpose.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Licensee is responsible for all expenses associated with beehive storage on County land. License fee revenue is estimated to be less than $1,000 per year and will fall under the SPI Real Estate budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
License between Tauzer Apiaries, Inc. as Licensee and the County of Sonoma as Licensor
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Beehive License Agreements for City of Davis, City of Fairfield, and City of Benicia