The Midtown Ventura Community Council will hold their next virtual general meeting Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m. The main focus of the meeting will be public safety.

First on their agenda will be Daniel Wall, City of Ventura Emergency Manager, who will give an update on new plans that are in place and ones that he continues to work on for possible emergencies that may affect our city.

The main presentation of the evening will be Police Chief Darin Schindler discussing the Ventura Police Department's (VPD) Strategic Plan for 2020-2023. Ventura Police Department is rooted in community policing through community partnerships and collaborative problem solving which is central to their efforts. The Strategic Plan outlines department priorities, but VPD also recognizes the need to be nimble to respond to unpredictable change.

Through several workshops, surveys, and meeting with the community and with collaboration and input from employees at all levels, five goals were identified:

Goal 1: Crime Control - Effective responses to crime in our community
Goal 2: Team Development - A focus on our most important resources
Goal 3: Active Partnerships - Shared community problem solving efforts
Goal 4: Safe Neighborhoods - Enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods
Goal 5: Efficiency and Accountability - Commitment to excellence

Innovation, technological advancements, and fostering a culture of open dialogue with our community is vital to our success moving forward as the City updates policing strategies. VPD is comprised of more than 225 members, including sworn officers, professional staff, and volunteers, all of whom, are proud to serve.

There will be plenty of time for questions at the end of the presentation. Read their complete Strategic Plan in English and Spanish here.

The virtual meeting will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. You must register ahead of time for the meeting to be able to participate by going to their website at midtownventura.org

For further information or questions, please call Dan Long at 805-653-6573.