The city council finds as follows:
A. The City of Chico, pursuant to the police powers delegated to it by the California Constitution, has the authority to enact laws which promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its residents;
B. The occurrence of gatherings on private property where alcoholic beverages are served to, or consumed by, underage persons is harmful to the underage persons themselves and a threat to public health, safety, quiet enjoyment of residential property, and general welfare;
C. Underage persons often obtain alcoholic beverages at gatherings held at private residences or at rented residential and commercial premises that are under the control of a person who knows or should know of the underage service and consumption but who fails to ensure that alcoholic beverages are neither served to, nor consumed by, underage persons;
D. Persons held responsible for abetting or tolerating gatherings where alcoholic beverages are served to, or consumed by, underage persons will be more likely to properly supervise and prevent such gatherings held on property under their possession or control; and
E. In the past and present, city law enforcement and fire personnel have, and are required to respond, sometimes on multiple occasions, to gatherings on private property at which alcoholic beverages are served to, or consumed by, underage persons, and responses to such gatherings result in a disproportionate expenditure of public safety resources by the City of Chico and often delay police and fire responses to regular and emergency calls to the remainder of the city.
(Ord. 2447)