City Council Lays Out Immigration Resources, Police Practices at Dec. 15 Meeting
Sylvie Belmond 
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Public pressure for answers has been building for months. On Dec. 15, the Simi Valley City Council will devote part of its meeting to addressing questions about immigration-related resources and local police practices.
Residents who attend the meeting in person or online will hear two informational briefings, one focused on immigration resources available in Ventura County and another explaining how the Simi Police Department approaches public safety and serves the community.
Interface Children & Family Services will deliver the first presentation, highlighting immigration-related services, referrals and support programs available throughout Ventura County. The presentation will include Ventura County 2-1-1, an Interface-operated program that connects residents with local resources, general assistance and statewide information for immigrants.
According to Interface, Ventura County 2-1-1 provides referrals for free or low-cost immigration legal assistance, help with immigration forms and family petitions and access to accurate information for residents seeking assistance. Officials say the goal is to ensure community members understand what resources exist and how to access them.
SVPD Chief Steve Shorts will then outline the department’s approach to public safety, current practices and commitment to serving the community.
“Our department is dedicated to being accessible and responsive,” Shorts said in a statement. “This presentation is an opportunity to address some of the top questions we’ve received in recent months and provide clarity about our approach to public safety and how we serve our community.”
Questions related to police practices, public safety and immigration have been raised repeatedly during recent City Council meetings, particularly during public comment. City officials have stated that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and not conducted or directed by the city.
Both presentations on Monday are intended to improve community understanding. No ordinances, resolutions or policy actions related to immigration enforcement or public safety are scheduled for council consideration.
The council meeting will take place Monday at 6:30 p.m. at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road. Residents can attend in person, watch live on the city’s website at simivalley.org, stream the meeting on the city’s YouTube channel or view it on Spectrum Channel 10 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
The city also maintains a webpage with links to community information, immigration resources and local support agencies at www.simivalley.org. The full City Council agenda is available at www.simivalley.org/CityCouncil.
