City of Anaheim Office of the City Manager August 30, 2023 The Honorable Maria Hernandez Presiding Judge Orange County*

Group homes too close to one another contribute to the problems associated with overconcentration. City Response to F1: Anaheim agrees with this finding.

Common nuisances are more likely and disruptive when sober living homes are concentrated in a small geographic area of a neighborhood. City Response to F2: Anaheim agrees with this finding.

Some cities have successfully addressed and informed community members about the challenges faced in regulating group homes. City Response to F3: Anaheim acknowledges that public outreach with respect to group homes presents challenges but respectfully disagrees that broad community support exists for group homes based on the examples cited.

Community satisfaction was minimal when cities took the traditional public comment approach towards addressing community complaints. City Response to F4: Anaheim acknowledges that public outreach can occur in various ways but respectfully disagrees that any one specific method facilitates greater 200 S. ANAHEIM BLVD. SUITE 733 ANAHEIM, CA 92805 TEL (714) 765-5162 FAX (714) 765-5164 www.anaheim.net The Honorable Maria Hernandez August 29, 2023 community satisfaction particularly when an issue is contentious. Specifically, with respect to the Grandma's House of Hope Conditional Use Permit (CUP) referenced by the Grand Jury, in addition to a community outreach meeting held by the applicant to inform neighbors of the proposed project, there was an over-three-hour discussion at the Planning Commission public hearing followed by an over five-hour discussion at the City Council public hearing. Written comments were also provided for both hearings. Although comments in opposition were in the majority, members of the public also provided verbal and written comments in support of the CUP. It should also be noted that Grandma's House of Hope is not a Group Home as defined in the Grand Jury report, but rather is categorized as Transitional and Supportive Housing by State law and subject to separate regulations.

Cities are not utilizing police, fire, and code enforcement complaints as a means of locating and tracking Group Homes. City Response to F5: Anaheim agrees with this finding.

Cities are inhibited from enacting and enforcing ordinances due to fears over the potential cost of litigation. City Response to F6: Anaheim agrees partially with this finding in that state and federal laws deter cities from enforcing their ordinances in a way that effectively protects the residents of the group homes and the neighborhoods in which they are located.

Several cities have created an ordinance that requires a ministerial permit or registration to operate a group home, however many of these cities do not enforce their ordinances. City Response to F7: Anaheim agrees with this finding with respect to the creation of a ministerial permit or registration. The City has an obligation, however, to enforce an adopted ordinance.

City and County officials are deterred from regulating group homes by California Housing and Community Development's housing element approval process. City Response to F8: Anaheim agrees with this finding.

Cities have historically strategized and acted independently in addressing group home challenges and solutions. City Response to F9: Anaheim agrees with this finding.

Well-operated group homes can integrate smoothly into neighborhoods. City Response to F10: Anaheim agrees with this finding.

There is a lack of regulatory oversight for the health and safety of residents of unlicensed group homes. City Response to F11: Anaheim agrees with this finding. The Honorable Maria Hernandez August 29, 2023