The community is invited to come together with Ventura Police Officers in a friendly, informal environment to discuss community issues, build relationships and enjoy a good cup of coffee for Coffee with a Cop which will be held at Starbucks located at 4722 Telephone Road, on March 14 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am.

Most contacts police officers have with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street or during the course of their duties. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows time for relaxed one-on-one interaction.

Engaging the community in public safety efforts is a top priority of the Ventura Police Department. We share the community’s concerns and make every effort to address them. We offer monthly opportunities at Community Council meetings to learn about crime trends and crime prevention. We also provide regular community meetings and neighborhood meetings upon request. Coffee with a Cop is an additional opportunity for residents to get to know the officers that serve Ventura.

The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time. Coffee with a Cop provides an opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s service. There is no formal agenda, just a casual opportunity to voice concerns and share ideas. This is a no host event.

The Ventura Police Department and Ventura Police Community Foundation are partnering with the Midtown Community Council and Pacific View Mall for Food Truck Friday on March 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Pacific View Mall parking lot nearest to Trader Joes. The event features nearly 20 food, dessert and coffee trucks. Live music, face painting, a patrol car and Ventura Police K9s will be featured at this family friendly event.

Community members are invited to stop by the Ventura Police booth to visit with Ventura Police Officers and K9s and learn about the efforts of the Ventura Police Community Foundation in supporting public safety. Important safety information will be available and glow sticks will be provided to children while supplies last.

Food Truck Friday has helped support the Adopt-A-School Program which has provided beautification projects through a portion of event profits and community partnerships since the Food Truck event began in October 2012.

Residents are encouraged to learn more about their neighborhood Community Council. Ventura has seven neighborhood councils and any resident; business owner or property owner can join their area group. Ventura Police crime and safety updates are provided at each of the monthly community council meetings offering an opportunity for residents to get to know their local patrol officers. For more information please call 805-339-4317.

27Kimberly Prillhart has been selected as the new director of the Resource Management Agency. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers following a search which included strong internal and external candidates. Prillhart replaces Chris Stephens who retired in January after 13 years as the agency’s director.

Prillhart started with the County in 1998 and for the past 10 years has served as the County’s Planning Director. As Planning Director, she managed a staff of 41 and a $6.1 million budget.

“Kim has consistently demonstrated leadership and expertise in navigating with her team through the many complex issues she has handled as Planning Director,” said Powers. “Kim has a track record of working well with, and listening to, stakeholders with diverse perspectives in order to identify the right balance in arriving at land use decisions that support the Board of Supervisors’ vision for land use in our beautiful County. This approach to leadership will serve her well in broadening her role to overseeing the critical areas of the Resource Management Agency including Environmental Health, Weights and Measures, Code Compliance and Building and Safety.”

In her new role, Prillhart will oversee planning, building and environmental health; and direct the enforcement of laws and ordinances regulating land use, zoning, weights, measures and environmental protection.

“I am excited to continue to move the agency forward as we update our General Plan and look to the future of Ventura County,” said Prillhart.

Prillhart began her career with the County as an intern and was then hired to work on the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act program, overseeing 27 mines. She rapidly advanced through five planning positions prior to be named as Planning Director. She has served as president of the California Counties Planning Directors Association and on the board of the California American Planning Association, and she is a 20-year member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Prillhart, 56, has a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She is a resident of Ventura and will start her new position at a salary of $202,419.

The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) has named Derrick Wilson as Strategic Operations Manager to lead the newly formed division within the Central Services Department (CSD) concentrated on planning, execution, analysis and knowledge (PEAK) management for VCPWA.

Prior to serving as VCPWA’s Strategic Operations Manager, Wilson began his career with VCPWA’s Water and Sanitation Department managing staff and services in the Integrated Waste Management Division. Wilson’s new role will focus on agency-wide organizational excellence and continuous process improvement. He will oversee a variety of agency-wide activities which include implementation of the agency’s strategic plan, tracking and reporting performance metrics, leading the Business Quality Council, and assisting departments with completing, documenting and reporting process improvements.

“Our new strategic Operations Manager is by far one of VCPWA’s most important roles. Our agency operations require our full team working together with great expertise and passion to keep our communities safe, through all of our many public works projects and our immediate response to emergencies through our five departments,” said Jeff Pratt, Director of VCPWA. “Derrick’s key position will keep us extremely efficient and cost effective as we work on behalf of Ventura county. The safety and quality of life of our community is paramount to VCPWA.”

With a combined 27 years in public service, 10 years at the County of Santa Barbara and 17 years with the County of Ventura, Wilson has successfully led teams and completed enterprise-level initiatives employing process improvement, business process redesign, change management and project leadership skills.