CHICO — After years of regressing public alcohol consumption in Chico, the city appears to be making a move back towards its “fun” days.
With heavy emphasis on economic opportunities rather than “party time,” the Chico City Council approved an ordinance establishing entertainment zones in downtown Chico and Meriam Park, where customers could carry approved beverages and walk around outside.
“This is not intended to relax open container laws,” Gustafson said. “It’s really to create a system creating an experience for patrons, increase traffic, support economic development, raising vibrancy and really support the business in downtown areas.”
A map of downtown Chico outlines the downtown Chico entertainment zone retrieved Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from the city of Chico. (City of Chico/Contributed)
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A map of downtown Chico outlines the downtown Chico entertainment zone retrieved Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from the city of Chico. (City of Chico/Contributed)
Gustafson said the ordinance is intended is to assist downtown and Meriam Park with that experience, and, in essence, city staff think a little bit of alcohol in people’s systems can help them “shop a little bit extra in the (entertainment) zone.
“We’re trying to enhance all the gathering spaces, opportunities (and) really support economic development, increase foot traffic, create some vibrance in these particular areas, encourage people to stay longer and visit multiple businesses,” Gustafson said.
The ordinance will allow people 21 and older to possess open containers of alcoholic beverages in entertainment zones, on the condition they will wear a wristband, stamp or other visible verification marker.
Gustafson said Chico’s ordinance is modeled from Redding and the city would adopt a list of “do’s and don’ts” to be placed inside restaurants.
Only standardized, non-glass, non-metal containers compliant with the state’s Alcohol and Beverage Control guidelines would be permitted by the ordinance. Gustafson said single use cups are to prevent people from bringing their own alcohol into the zone.
He the zoning is allowable through Senate Bill 969 which went into effect Jan. 1, 2025, and Chico’s ordinance is expected to come into effect Sept. 18.
Chico isn’t the first to have an entertainment zone in California. It joins other cities with established entertainment zones including San Francisco which has about 20 entertainment zones; San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, Long Beach and Redding.
The planned Downtown Chico Entertainment Zone spans mostly from Highway 32 to Lost Park; and the Meriam Park Entertainment Zone is enclosed by Springfield Drive, Alcott Avenue, Notre Dame Boulevard and East 20th Street.
Gustafson said the university representatives were met, and the city will start off with a small area because it’s new to this, and the boundaries could be adjusted in the future should businesses in south downtown Chico wish to participate.
“Even post COVID … purchasing behaviors have really changed to an online situation, and what we really have to do is focus on creating an experience that will attract folks to come down to enjoy,” he said.
Council comments
Councilor Bryce Goldstein said she remembers when COVID-19 lockdowns “nearly killed” all of Chico’s music scene, and said she has met many people who have said, “‘I wish we could bring our beers outside like we used to be able to.’”
She added that she thinks the zones would make more people spend time in Chico’s commercial areas, while Councilor Katie Hawley said that she thinks the zones are one piece of a larger issue supporting local commerce.
Police Chief Billy Aldridge said he thinks the ordinance will add no extra calls for services and that he sees no kinds of issues being a problem.
Resident Barbara Hanson didn’t want the council to vote yes because she said Butte County ranks high in the state for cirrhosis and liver disease related to alcoholism, and suggested “we assist (in) sober curious behavior by discouraging practice that encourages free alcohol use.”
Jen Rothenwander, a representative of Meriam Park, said she supports the zone and is excited for opportunities it can offer, including more public seating to sit with a beverage rather than crowding sidewalks; increasing private security; and installing signs to make legal consumption of alcohol easy to understand and follow.
“We see it as an investment in what Chico could be — a community that feels more alive, more welcoming and more worth sticking around,” said Rothenwander. “And when people stick ’round longer, they shop, eat and spend, which means growth for local small business that make this town special.”
Molly Kopta, president of Chico Chamber of Commerce, said she thinks that the ordinance isn’t about alcohol nor about creating new businesses, but rather it makes a reason for people to “spend more time supporting the businesses we already have.”
“People rarely visit just open business. They meet friends … enjoy live music, brows local shops, stop for dessert, grab a cup of coffee,” Kopta said
Councilor Mike O’Brien said he thinks Chico has had a “unique relationship with alcohol over the past few decades” and that he “lived through some of that uniqueness.”
He said that Chico State students used to overdose on alcohol often, but “we’ve gotten past that; we’ve made great strides,” he said.
The City Council approved the ordinance in a 6-0 vote with an addition to make reports about the zones available every year, rather than biennially.
Other business
The council also made the following moves:
• Direction to the Internal Affairs Committee to discuss options for the city’s residential and commercial solid waste agreement with Waste Management.
• A resolution vacating a piece of public utility easement at 1075 Via Verona Drive.
• Amendments to the city code clarifying requirements for developers building underground utilities and street lights.
• An agreement with the Chico Area Recreation and Park District to enhance Garner Lane with frontage improvements before the opening of the district’s future water park.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.chicoer.com ’
