Happy Thanksgiving from the City of Fremont! City offices will be closed Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
The Fremont City Council selected a new Vice Mayor at its regularly scheduled November 18, 2025, Council meeting. Vice Mayor Yajing Zhang will serve in this capacity from November 2025 through July 2026.
We are wrapping up our community survey analyzing the most important qualities and experiences that our next Fremont Police Chief should exhibit. If you haven’t already, please take our survey by 5:00 pm today, November 21.
The City is pleased to kick off the second phase of the Palm Avenue Community Park planning process and we need your input as Survey #2 closes this Sunday, November 23, 2025. The primary goal of this phase is to narrow down three conceptual designs to ultimately develop a draft Master Plan that will be shared with the Fremont City Council for their approval in early 2026.
What’s Next?
Following the survey, due diligence will be conducted on proposed park amenities. A draft of the Master Plan, which is anticipated to include a combination of design features, amenities, and elements from the three conceptual plans, will be proposed to the Recreation Commission and then to City Council for consideration and adoption in the first quarter of 2026. During these meetings there will be more opportunities for public comment.
After City Council adoption of the Master Plan, an environmental review will begin, followed by the development of construction documents. The project is anticipated to start construction in 2027 with estimated opening in 2028.
Please share your feedback by taking Survey #2 by Sunday, November 23.
Project page: https://bit.ly/PalmAvenuePark
MyFremont page: https://www.my.fremont.gov/palmavenuepark
Register your child for Thanksgiving Break Camps! The City of Fremont has everything to keep your child active, social, and engaged over Thanksgiving Break with a variety camp options. From art and cooking to sports and academic enrichment, there’s something for every interest. Half-day, full-day, and extended care options are available.
Don’t miss out on making your child’s Thanksgiving break memorable!
For more information, contact Recreation Services at 510-494-4300 or regerec@fremont.gov.
The City of Fremont Housing Resource Center In-Person Drop-In hours will be closed on Thursday, November 27.
For the month of December, days of operation may vary to minimize additional closures.
The hours for December are as follows:
- Open Thursdays: December 4, 11, and 18
- Open Tuesdays: December 23 and 30
- Closed: December 24 and 31
All of the above will operate our regular hours: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. In the Millenium Room of the Fremont Family Resource Center.
Please note: The next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at City Hall, 3300 Capitol Ave.
Catch up on November 18 Council Meeting
Did you miss this week’s City Council Meeting? Catch up on the webcast for updates or view the agenda.
The week before Thanksgiving is celebrated and recognized in many communities as Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. This year, between November 16 to 22 many volunteer events and donation collections are taking place.
The City of Fremont is participating by continuing our efforts to collect much needed cold weather clothing and supplies to support unhoused residents.
Donations will be distributed through City Homeless Services programs, including the Housing Resource Center and Safe Parking Program, and shared with our partner, Bay Area Community Services to reach those in need quickly.
There are two easy ways to give:
Donate online through the City’s Amazon wish list which ships items directly to the Human Services Department.
Drop off items using the Homeless Services Needs List, which includes locations and hours.
All clothing should be new and adult-sized (S to XXXL).
Kick off the holiday season in Niles with sparkle and cheer as The Niles Main Street Association proudly presents the Annual Festival of Lights Parade on Friday, November 28 along Niles Boulevard!
This beloved community tradition features more than 60 dazzling floats and entries, along with marching bands, specialty units, and festive characters!
- 6:00 pm Tree Lighting Ceremony
- 6:30 pm Parade Begins
Gather your family, friends, and holiday spirit, and join us in historic downtown Niles for an evening filled with lights, music, and community celebration.
For more details, visit: nilesfestivaloflightsparade.org
Road Closure: The following roads will be closed on Friday, November 28 from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
- Niles Boulevard., between “J” Street and Hillview Drive in both directions. The intersection of Hillview will remain open for traffic.
- Iron Horse Lane between “J” Street and “F” Street
- “D,” “E,” “F,” “G,” “H,” and “I” Street, between Second Street and Niles Boulevard
- Iron Horse Lane between “F” Street and “J” Street
- Sullivan Underpass
- Large City parking lot next to Niles Town Plaza
- Small City parking lot next to Niles Town Plaza
Tree Lighting:
- J Street between Niles Boulevard and Second Street will close at the time of the tree lighting at 6:00 pm and will remain closed until 9:00 pm.
- Vehicles will not be allowed to enter Niles on Niles Boulevard (off Mission Boulevard) after 5:30 pm and Niles will only be accessible via Nursery Avenue and Niles Boulevard from the north during the parade.
For event information, visit: https://www.nilesfestivaloflightsparade.org
Just a friendly reminder that next week, Republic Services will collect garbage, recycling, and compost/organics one day later than usual for Thursday and Friday customers. So, if your collection day is Thursday, November 27, it will be on Friday, November 28. If your collection day is Friday, November 28, it will be on Saturday, November 29. Thanks for understanding!
The City’s online permitting portal, Citizen Access, will be taken offline for the Thanksgiving holiday closure. Citizen Access will be unavailable from Wednesday, November 26 at 12:00 pm through Monday, December 1 at 8:00 am. Online requests for permits and building inspections will not be available during this time. This includes building, planning, and engineering permits. Please keep this in mind when planning construction and development projects requiring these types of permits.
The City’s inspection scheduling phone line will still be available during the closure to request a building inspection for the following week. Anyone who needs to request an inspection can call 510-494-4885.
For more information, contact the City’s Building and Safety Division by phone at 510-494-4460 or by email.
Did you know that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, more food goes to waste than any other time of year? Don't let your food join the pile! We have some easy ways to celebrate without the excess waste.
Where do I put food scraps and expired leftovers? Toss all food scraps and leftovers into your green compost cart, including any meat and bones. This process creates compost, a valuable resource that helps grow healthy food and reduce greenhouse gases. For a reminder of what’s acceptable for your green cart, check out the City’s Composting Guide.
How easy is it to compost food scraps? Start composting right from your kitchen by simply gathering your compostable items (food scraps and food-soiled paper) in any container (like a kitchen bowl or countertop pail) and then tossing them into your green cart later. Free countertop kitchen pails are available from Republic Services by completing this online form.
Hosting a holiday gathering? Make it easy for guests to compost by placing composting pails and carts out where everyone can see them. To reduce waste even further, consider choosing reusable plates, silverware, cups, and serving dishes whenever possible. Reusables help cut down on trash and keep plastic out of landfills. If reusables aren’t an option, paper plates and certified compostable wooden utensils are a good alternative and can be placed in the green cart.
By doing your part to reduce food waste, you can help create a climate-ready Fremont this holiday season. Thank you and keep up the “green” work!
Celebrate the season at the 2nd Annual Holidays at the Plaza on Friday, December 5, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Downtown Event Center Plaza (3500 Capitol Avenue, Fremont)! In partnership with the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, this free, family-friendly event includes a 6:00 pm tree lighting, hot chocolate, a holiday market, a photo booth, and a ticketed kids’ gingerbread cookie decorating activity. You’ll even get a special visit from the Grinch!
Kids can enjoy even more sweet fun at the Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Workshop, happening the same evening from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Five time slots are available, and registration is now live. Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up here.
The Special Event Sponsorship Program offers financial assistance to support large-scale special events in the City of Fremont. We have started the process for Fiscal Year 2026/27 for events to be held from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Applicants interested in applying to the Special Event Sponsorship Program, must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). The LOI is an online form that collects information about the organizer’s proposed event to determine initial eligibility for event sponsorship. The LOI is due on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
A virtual information session will also be held on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 11:00 am.
For details about the information session, program guidelines, eligibility, and other requirements, please visit the City of Fremont Website.
Fremont is charging ahead toward a cleaner future after earning the top designation in the national Charging Smart program. This Gold designation specifically recognizes the City’s success in implementing policies that facilitate the expansion of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure.
As a Charging Smart Gold designee, Fremont has adopted nationally recognized best practices to accelerate the deployment of EVs in the community to help achieve economic development and climate action goals.
Through the Charging Smart program, led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), local governments achieve designation by meeting established criteria that are based on national best practices for building EV-friendly communities. Those that meet the criteria are designated Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Charging Smart is the sister program to SolSmart, where Fremont proudly became the first city in the country to reach Platinum status in 2023 for solar energy progress.
To achieve Charging Smart Gold designation, the City has taken actions including:
- streamlining the permitting process for installing EV infrastructure,
- installing public EV chargers across parks, City facilities, and shopping areas,
- expanding the City’s electric fleet, reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants, and
- completing a fleet electrification study to guide future EV investments.
These efforts aim to facilitate clean driving for the community and promote a climate-ready Fremont. The City looks forward to realizing this vision in partnership with the community and thanks everyone for their continued commitment!
The City of Fremont's Recreation Guide for Winter/Spring 2026 is here! Discover fresh ways to play, learn, and connect in the new year, from creative workshops to outdoor adventures and family fun. Our digital edition is ready to explore now, and the printed version will be on its way to your mailbox soon.
Browse the guide and start registering for your 2026 activities today!
The City has adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments, which becomes effective on January 1, 2026 and replaces the current 2022 code. Applicants who wish to apply for a building/fire permit under the current 2022 code must submit their request through the City’s online permitting portal, Citizen Access, by 12:00 pm on Tuesday, December 23. Please note that all applications must be complete and include all necessary plan information. Incomplete applications will be subject to the new 2025 code.
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