GARDEN GROVE City Hall (Orange County Tribune photo).

A special meeting of the Garden Grove City Council has been called for Wednesday, Dec. 20 to consider adoption of an “urgency interim ordinance” that would create a 45-day moratorium on new substance abuse treatment centers in the city.

According to a staff report, the city has received “inquiries” about bringing such businesses to Garden Grove, but a review of the municipal code indicates there’s no language in the code regarding regulations for drug abuse treatment centers.

The report also notes that while a treatment center could have some benefits, it could also have negative impacts including drug use, loitering, assault and battery, etc. The moratorium would give the city time to study the issue and come up with appropriate safeguards.

For approval, the urgency ordinance requires six “yes” votes.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave.