Welcome to the Neighborhood' Are Cities Responsibly Managing the Integration of Group Homes?*

(F1): Group homes too close to one another contribute to the problems associated with overconcentration. City Response: Agree

(F2): Common nuisances are more likely and disruptive when sober living homes are concentrated in a small geographic area of a neighborhood. City Response: Agree

(F3): Some cities have successfully addressed and informed community members about the challenges faced in regulating group homes. City Response: Agree

(F4): Community satisfaction was minimal when cities took the traditional public comment approach towards addressing community complaints. City Response: Agree

(F5): Cities are not utilizing police, fire, and code enforcement complaints as a means of locating and tracking Group Homes. City Response: Disagree. Cities often learn of the location of an unlicensed group home due to calls for service or code enforcement complaints. However, there are many limitations to using police, fire, and code enforcement complaints for tracking purposes. For example, law enforcement calls for service are subject to privacy protection. Further, if group homes are not subject to local ordinances or permitting requirements and are protected by State policies, tracking may be difficult.

(F6): Cities are inhibited from enacting and enforcing ordinances due to fears over the potential cost of litigation. City Response: Agree.

(F7): 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: Disagree Partially. The City of Placentia has no substantial evidence to support the statement that these other cities that require a ministerial permit for group homes do not enforce their ordinances.

(F8): City and County officials are deterred from regulating group homes by California Housing and Community Development's housing element approval process. City Response: Agree. State law requires that ordinances related to group homes are very narrowly focused, and often, those ordinances do not result in providing a "tool" for enforcement. Most local ordinances regarding group homes simply echo the State laws regarding group homes instead of being useful as a local regulatory tool.

(F9): Cities have historically strategized and acted independently in addressing group home challenges and solutions City Response: Disagree partially. The City of Placentia agrees that cities have acted independently to address group homes. Every city has different circumstances, and it is best left to cities to address local challenges in ways that are appropriate to the local needs. Further, the League of California Cities, a group comprising membership of the vast majority of California cities, has previously engaged in legislative discussions to further local control to the extent possible. More local control would be beneficial.

(F10): Well-operated group homes can integrate smoothly into neighborhoods. City Response: Disagree partially. The City of Placentia has experienced increased neighborhood issues due to the presence of some group homes. However, it may be the case that well-operated group homes in other jurisdictions are integrating smoothly into the neighborhoods. However, there is not enough evidence to completely agree with this finding.

and Recommendations R1, R2, R3, R4, R5. Please consider this letter the City's official response to these findings and recommendations.