I don't know anyone who has a top bar hive here to ask questions of. Is there a beekeeping association near you? If so you can call them and ask if any members have that type of hive.
Perhaps the city council hasn't heard from enough wanna be beekeepers to move that bill up higher on their list. If you know more people wanting that passed go to a meeting as a group to request they take action on it. Bribe with offers of honey if you have to. My method for getting things done with anyone from the Post Office to our magistrate is to bug the heck out of them until they do what I want just to get rid of me. And I enlist others to help me bug them if necessary.
I'll ask my husband if he would consider doing a top bar hive next year to see how one works.
