TITLE:
title
RESPONSE TO THE GRAND JURY REPORT TITLED “WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD- ARE CITIES RESPONSIBLY MANAGING THE INTEGRATION OF GROUP HOMES?”
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DEPARTMENT: ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: JENNIFER LE, ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR
CONTACT INFORMATION: KATIE ANGEL, SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST, 714-754-5618
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the attached response to the 2022-23 Orange County Grand Jury Report, “Welcome to the Neighborhood- Are cities responsibly managing the integration of group homes?”
2. Authorize the Mayor to submit the response to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court pursuant to Penal Code Section 933.05 (a) and (b).
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BACKGROUND:
On June 12, 2023, the Orange County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) published a report titled “Welcome to the Neighborhood: Are cities responsibly managing the integration of group homes?” (Attachment 1). The Grand Jury reviewed the challenges associated with successfully integrating group homes into neighborhoods and interviewed numerous subject matter experts, including state and local officials. To better understand the impacts of group homes, jurors attended town halls and City Council meetings in multiple jurisdictions and visited neighborhoods in several cities where there is a heavy concentration of group homes. Additionally, the Grand Jury evaluated numerous official documents including the 2022 State of California Department of Housing and Community Development’s “Group Home Technical Advisory” and the 1990 State of California Health and Safety Code.
California Penal Code Section 933 requires the governing bodies of the public agencies identified in the Grand Jury report to submit responses to the findings and recommendations in the report to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. The City of Costa Mesa, along with all other cities in Orange County, were required to respond. The Grand Jury report included a total of 11 findings and five recommendations.
ANALYSIS:
Staff prepared responses to each of the Grand Jury’s findings and recommendations as Attachment 2 for the City Council’s consideration. If approved, staff will obtain the Mayor’s signature on a cover letter and submit the attached responses to the Honorable Maria Hernandez, Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court.
ALTERNATIVES:
Instruct staff to provide alternative responses to the findings and recommendations in the enclosure to the Presiding Judge.
FISCAL REVIEW:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s office has reviewed this agenda report and draft responses to the Grand Jury report and approves them both as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goal:
• Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improve the Quality of Life
CONCLUSION:
The transmission of the attached responses to the Presiding Judge from the Mayor will fulfill the City’s obligations under California Penal Code sections 933.05 (a) and (b).