On June 12, 2023, the Orange County Grand Jury released its 2022-2023 Grand Jury Report, "Welcome to the Neighborhood" Are cities responsibly managing the integration of group homes? (see Attachment 1).  The purpose of the report was to study the challenges Orange County cities often experience in regulating group homes due to federal and state laws, particularly with unlicensed sober living or recovery facilities; the challenges cities experience with locating and tracking group homes, and responding to community complaints; and the challenges with successfully integrating group homes into a neighborhood.

Based on its investigation, the Orange County Grand Jury arrived at eleven (11) findings and five (5) recommendations.  In compliance with Penal Code 933.05 (a) and (b), the City is required to provide a response to the findings and recommendations directed to the City Council by September 13, 2023. 

The City has responded to the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury Report (see Attachment 2).  In summary, the City agrees with nine (9) of the findings (F1, F2, F3, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, and F11), and disagrees partially with two of the findings (F4 and F5).  In response to the recommendations, the City will not be implementing recommendations R1, R2 and R3, and the City is fully committed to implementing recommendations R4 and R5 in the future.  These recommendations include participation in a County task force to develop a plan to generate awareness among State legislators and regulators of the need for improved State regulations and management standards to ensure the health/safety for Group Home residents; and collection of data to enable the identification of a residence operating as a group home.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve the attached responses and authorize the submittal to the Orange County Grand Jury.

By: Maria Parra

      Planning Services Manager