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Council formalizes parks code: drug-free zones reinstated and most parks to close at 10 p.m.
Summary
After a staff briefing, the council adopted an ordinance inserting prior policy into the municipal code to designate city parks as drug-free zones and change typical closing times from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m.; staff noted enforcement is constrained by an ongoing settlement agreement while park ranger capacity is built.
Parks and natural-resources staff briefed the council on a cleanup ordinance to formally place two previously adopted policy decisions into the Chico Municipal Code: (1) designate all city parks as drug-free zones and (2) change the regular closing time for most parks and greenways from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. Staff explained the action formalizes votes taken in 2022 and fills a gap in the municipal code that remained unaddressed.
Staff and police discussed enforcement. Parks staff said the city is bolstering a sworn park-ranger program but that enforcement of closures and related actions are constrained by an ongoing settlement agreement; the staffer said the city hopes to enforce closures once the settlement language permits and ranger capacity increases. The council voted to adopt the ordinance; the clerk recorded the motion as carrying 6-0 with 1 absence.
Council members asked whether drug-free-zone penalties remain enforceable under the settlement; staff clarified that the drug-free-zone enhancement (for use, solicitation and selling) is currently enforceable and separate from park closing enforcement. The council approved the ordinance to codify prior policy and allow enforcement where legally permitted.
