The Medford Police Department and the Downtown Medford Association will host an open forum Wednesday to give local merchants and community members a chance to weigh in on safety concerns and other issues in the downtown, as well as hear updates from local police on measures being taken to address ongoing issues in the city center.

A Downtown Community Safety Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in the Prescott Room at the Medford Police Department, 219 S. Ivy St. City officials said the meeting was initiated after an increasing number of concerns were raised about safety and the overall well-being of merchants and community members in the downtown area.

Reports of increasing criminal activity in the downtown, as well as issues related to homeless campers sleeping in front of businesses and leaving debris and human waste, have increased in recent months. At the Medford library, concerns have been voiced about everything from drug use and property damage to fires being set.

Annie Jenkins, Downtown Medford Association executive director, said the meeting would provide a forum for concerns to be voiced and for Medford police officials to update local business owners and citizens on work being done to improve safety in the downtown.

Mayor Randy Sparacino has said plans are underway to add three officers to the city’s police Livability Team by late summer. In addition, Rogue Valley Transportation District Manager Julie Brown has suggested a dedicated livability team for her downtown terminal, the library and Rogue Community College.

Jenkins said it was important to support community members who are struggling and in need of assistance as well as to create a safe and inviting environment for all.

“We’ve had some merchants express that there’s some concerns, so we just wanted to make sure those concerns were addressed by the right people. It will also be a chance for the Medford Police Department to share where they’re at with everything and what all they’ve been working on to address some of those issues,” Jenkins said.

“It will be a chance for the community — and downtown merchants especially — to talk about what they’re experiencing. … This is our community, and I think everybody wants to see a place that is vibrant and a desirable place to come to.”

For details about the downtown association, see downtownmedford.org