City of Laguna Woods*

Group homes too close to one another contribute to the problems associated with overconcentration. Response: The City of Laguna Woods agrees with this finding. While the City has no direct experience with group homes, our understanding of the subject and experiences in other cities supports that an overconcentration of group homes may cause problems.

Common nuisances are more likely and disruptive when sober living homes are concentrated in a small geographic area of a neighborhood. Response: The City agrees with this finding. While the City has no direct experience with group homes, our understanding of the subject and experiences in other cities supports that an overconcentration of group homes may cause nuisances.

Some cities have successfully addressed and informed community members about the challenges faced in regulating group homes. Response: The City agrees with this finding. While the City has no direct experience with group homes, our understanding of the subject and experiences in other cities supports that some cities have successfully addressed and informed community members about the challenges faced in regulating group homes.

Community satisfaction was minimal when cities took the traditional public comment approach towards addressing community complaints. Response: The City disagrees wholly with this finding, but only because the City has no direct experience with group homes or levels of community satisfaction in other cities.

Cities are not utilizing police, fire, and code enforcement complaints as a means of locating and tracking Group Homes. Response: The City disagrees wholly with this finding, but only because the City has no direct experience with group homes or locating and tracking systems used in other cities.

Cities are inhibited from enacting and enforcing ordinances due to fears over the potential cost of litigation. Response: The City agrees with this finding. While the City has no direct experience with group homes, our understanding of the subject and experiences in other cities supports that enforcement can be subject to costly litigation.

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. Response: The City disagrees partially with this finding, but only because the City has no direct experience with group homes or enforcement practices in other cities. It is true that some cities have created ordinances that require ministerial permitting or registration to operate a group home.

City and County officials are deterred from regulating group homes by California Housing and Community Development's housing element approval process. Response: The City disagrees wholly with this finding, but only because the City has no direct experience with group homes or how the California Department of Housing and Community Development's housing element review process relates.

Cities have historically strategized and acted independently in addressing group home challenges and solutions. Response: The City agrees with this finding. While the City has no direct experience with group homes, our understanding of the subject and experiences in other cities supports that cities often strategize and act independently in addressing group home challenges and solutions.

Well-operated group homes can integrate smoothly into neighborhoods. Response: The City agrees with this finding. While the City has no direct experience with group homes, it is likely that well-operated group homes can integrate smoothly into neighborhoods.

There is a lack of regulatory oversight for the health and safety of residents of unlicensed group homes. Response: The City agrees with this finding. While the City has no direct experience with group homes, our understanding of the subject and experiences in other cities supports that there is an insufficient level of effective regulatory oversight for the health and safety of residents of unlicensed group homes.