The City Council finds and determines that:
A. Violent crime in this community is and continues to escalate at an alarming rate. The citizens of this community are violently victimized and intimidated by individuals who have embraced a criminal life style which has no place in a civilized society.
B. The presence of illegal activity, and in particular, unlawful drug activity, fosters an environment that attracts crime, degrades the quality of life in neighborhoods by creating visual blight, health hazards to our youth and others in the presence of used hypodermic syringes, discarded dangerous drugs, and other trash and rubbish, and impacts the business community by turning away potential customers from the places of business within the area where drug dealers, drug users and purchasers congregate to sell, consume and purchase drugs.
C. It is a legitimate need of the City of Gridley to address problems inimical to the health, safety and welfare of the community and loitering with the intent to commit certain illegal acts is such a problem.
D. The Council desires to enhance the ability of law enforcement to curtail the environment which is conducive to criminal activity from the streets of this community with an additional enforcement tool to abate the public nuisance created by the individuals who engage in the illegal activities described in this section.
(Ord. 729, 2004).