HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncilmember Item - Mayor Peterson and Councilmember Brende _ City of Huntington Beach
9DH,
File #: 19-949 MEETING DATE: 9/16/2019
Submitted by Mayor Peterson and Councilmember Brenden - Sober Living Homes
Direct the City Attorney to return to City Council by October 21, 2019 with one or more draft
Ordinance(s) that strike an appropriate balance between the interests of the City and its residents to
preserve residential neighborhood character and the need to provide reasonable accommodation for
the disabled to reside in normalized residential environments that promote effective recovery.
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 1 Printed on 9/11/2019
po,,ver451R Leg:sta,"
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
City Council Interoffice Communication
To: Honorable City Council Members
From: Patrick Brenden, City Council Membeof
Erik Peterson, Mayor
Date: September 16, 2019
Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM FOR THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2019,
CITY COUNCIL MEETING — SOBER LIVING HOMES
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Our city and others have experienced a proliferation of group homes, many of which are located
within residential neighborhoods. In particular, the City has seen an increase in single family
homes being utilized as housing for individuals recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.
These facilities can be organized by recovery program operators, but oftentimes do not require
licensing by the state, as certain services are not provided on-site. They are commonly referred
to as Sober Living Homes.
When these facilities become overconcentrated in specific blocks or neighborhoods, they can
produce secondary effects atypical of residential areas, such as excessive secondhand smoke,
noise, an overuse of on-street parking, and more. In stating these concerns, we recognize that
well-administered homes can avoid these secondary impacts and can work well for persons in
recovery.
Recent court successes by the City of Costa Mesa invite our Council to consider a stepped-up
approach to addressing the secondary effects of sober living homes in our community where the
homes can become overconcentrated.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct the City Attorney to return to City Council by October 21, 2019 with one or more draft
Ordinance(s) that strike an appropriate balance between the interests of the City and its
residents to preserve residential neighborhood character and the need to provide reasonable
accommodation for the disabled to reside in normalized residential environments that promote
effective recovery.
xc: Dave Kiff, Interim City Manager
Travis Hopkins, Acting Assistant City Manager
Robin Estanislau, City Clerk
Michael Gates, City Attorney