Council to receive study of group homes

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- An inventory of group homes in the city will be

presented to the City Council Monday during its monthly study session.

Two Costa Mesa group homes, which cater to recovering drug and alcohol

addicts, have applications pending with the city for conditional use

permits.

The applications prompted a request by Councilwoman Linda Dixon to

find out how many group homes there are in the city.

“I think this survey will determine whether Costa Mesa has reasonably

accommodated and whether Costa Mesa is doing their fair share,” Dixon

said.

Dixon said that she suspects that with the city’s socially responsible

slant, there may be a higher ratio of group homes in the community than

in surrounding cities.

The report inventories all known group homes in the city including

ones for foster children, the developmentally disabled, recovering drug

addicts and alcoholics, the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and

senior citizens.

The state limits a city’s ability to regulate certain group homes with

six or fewer residents. A closed session will also be held after the

study session to discuss legal issues relating to group homes.

In other matters, the council will discuss whether to allow fireworks

in the city during the millennium celebration. A report from the fire

marshal was received earlier this year recommending against the

fireworks.

However, about 17 nonprofit groups including ones from high schools

and the American Youth Soccer Organization have expressed interest in

selling fireworks during the millennium, said Mayor Gary Monahan.

A state bill allows the sale of fireworks during the millennium if a

local jurisdiction authorizes it.

The City Council Study Session is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in

Conference Room 1A of City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.