Ventura · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ventura public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
The fire department drafted the city's first community wildfire protection plan and wants your input at workshops on Feb 18 and Feb 26, or via an online survey through Feb 27.
El Niño Storm Preparedness
Councilmember Campos said only about 10% of the unsheltered population got hotel vouchers during the Christmas Day storm and called for emergency shelter options like the fairgrounds.
Police-Fire Headquarters Locker Room Renovation
Police officers described raw sewage in showers, one toilet serving the whole women's locker room, and 200+ facility failures — pressing the council to keep the headquarters project funded and on track for fall bidding.
Flock Camera Security Breach
A vendor configuration error let two out-of-state police agencies query Ventura's license plate reader data for months in 2025. The chief says pathways are now blocked and daily audits are running, but residents are calling for the contract to be revisited and a human rights commission created.
SAFER grant for firefighter staffing
The fire department will apply for $6.6 million in federal funding to keep 11 firefighter/paramedic positions. Without it, the two paramedic squads launched in 2024 — credited with faster response times and big drops in overtime and fatigue — would face elimination.
Kratom and nitrous oxide sales bans
Two new ordinances ban retail sales of nitrous oxide and kratom, aimed at youth misuse, while leaving personal possession legal. Chronic-pain patients pushed back hard on the kratom ban, asking for regulation of dangerous 7-OH synthetics instead.
2025 Crime Trends and Homelessness Response
Crime dropped 12.3% to near-record lows; property crime fell 16.4%, though crimes against persons rose 12.7% on more assaults on officers and domestic violence. Homelessness-related calls fell 18.2%, with 132 people reconnected to services.
Storm flooding and homeless shelter capacity
Councilmember Campos said only about 10% of the unsheltered population got hotel vouchers during the Christmas Day storm and called for emergency shelter options like the fairgrounds.