HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 097-06
RESOLUTION NO.
097-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF BAKERSFIELD REQUESTING THE STATE
LEGISLATURE TO AMEND STATE LAWS PERTAINING
TO GROUP HOMES.
WHEREAS, the California Legislature has adopted legislation in the Welfare and
Institutions Code regarding group homes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to that legislation, group homes must be permitted in
residential areas; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield supports the proposition that residents of
group homes have the same rights and responsibilities of all individuals of the State of
California; and
WHEREAS, the City does not, however, agree that the rights afforded residents
of group homes is superior to the rights of the residents of the surrounding
neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, current legislation has a myriad of safeguards pertaining to the
residents of the group homes; and
WHEREAS, there is no mention in the legislation of safeguards for the neighbors
and neighborhoods surrounding the group homes; and
WHEREAS, for the past eighteen months, a group home has been operating in
the northeast section of Bakersfield; and
WHEREAS, for those eighteen months, the residents living in the area of the
group home have dealt with numerous situations involving residents of the group home
attempting to break into their homes, confronting them in their yards, screaming in the
street in the middle of the night and other acts which demonstrate a lack of control of
the residents by the counselors who are tasked with supervision; and
WHEREAS, when neighbors approached supervisors requesting a complaint
form or other mechanism to address their concerns, no document or process was
forthcoming for more than one year; and
WHEREAS, the California Code of Regulations adopted to facilitate the group
home legislation makes mention of a complaint procedure, however, it is strictly
designed for the residents of the group homes or their families to protest treatment,
conditions or behavior inside the group home; and
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WHEREAS, there is no mechanism in place for neighbors to lodge complaints
with the agency(ies) overseeing the group home; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield desires to see the legislation amended to
permit the neighbors surrounding group homes to have a voice to ensure that they, too,
are able to have their concerns about the group homes addressed by entities with the
power to correct the problems or concerns.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of
Bakersfield as follows:
1. That the above recitals are true and correct;
2. That the Council requests the California Legislature to amend the Welfare
and Institutions Code and adopt appropriate regulations which will enable the
neighbors surrounding group homes to have a mechanism to report complaints
and concerns regarding their safety and privacy and that such mechanism will
set forth a procedure with a rapid response time, so residents surrounding the
group home may live in peace and safety.
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by_
the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on APR 5 20qti
by the following vote:
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NOES:
AEOSTAlI'oI:
'_ABSENT:')
COUNCILMEMBER COUCH. CARSON. BENHAM, MAGGARD. HANSON, SULLIVAN, SCRIVNER
COUNCILMEMBER
COUNCILMEMBER
COUNCILMEMBER -ü'- .~",,' n_
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio rk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED
APR 5 2006
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By
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Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
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By (~a>)(¿¡;/ ~d da
{JANICE SCANLAN
(J Assistant City Attorney
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September 2. 2005
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