At the May 19 City Council Meeting, City officials held an informational session to discuss ways to continue enhancing the economic vitality of our Downtown.
Over the past decade, Downtown has shown continued progress, with 16 of 17 new ground floor retail spaces leased, over 768,000 visits in the last 12 months, and an increase in visitation of 152% compared to 2023.
Building on continued efforts to strengthen Downtown amid the current construction market, this conversation served as a starting point for next steps to continue encouraging and spurring investment, centering on five key pillars:
- Fostering investment in built environments
- Activation though events and placemaking
- Building coalitions and strategic partnerships
- Attracting new retail and marketing to Downtown
- Enhancing the public realm
Some of the key activations discussed included continuing supportive zoning policies, establishing a Downtown farmer’s market, creating a unified parking plan, activating vacant development sites with outdoor gathering activities, exploring opportunities to pull forward mixed-use development on Capitol Avenue through City fee and regulatory levers, and evaluating the long-term feasibility of relocating City Hall so that Capitol Avenue can expand by 25% and offer more prime locations to retailers.
In case you missed the meeting, the full Council presentation can be found online at:
May 19, 2026, City Council Meeting.
The City is in the planning stages of the Fremont-Decoto Land Development Plan (LDP), an effort that implements Program 63 of the City’s 2023–2031 Housing Element. Program 63 requires the City to commit the 9.59-acre City-owned site at 4178–4268 Decoto Road for a residential development that contains an affordable housing component. The City is analyzing the ways to accommodate a redevelopment that maximizes the production of much needed housing, provides community benefits, and satisfies City priorities and state law.
On Wednesday night, May 27, the City hosted an informational community meeting to share more details about the Fremont-Decoto LDP and gather community feedback. The meeting was well attended, with participants able to move through a series of informational stations to learn about various components of the project and share their feedback. Stations covered a wide range of topics—including site planning, public improvements, transportation upgrades, and the project timeline—providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the effort.
Looking ahead, the exhibits presented at the meeting will soon be available on the City’s Fremont-Decoto LDP webpage, along with a space for community members to share their feedback. In addition, another informational community meeting is planned for this fall, providing further opportunities for engagement and discussion.
We recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the LS Power Grid California: Power the South Bay Project, marking a major investment in regional energy reliability and growth across the South Bay and Fremont.
The project will deliver 1,000 megawatts of new transmission capacity (the equivalent of serving approximately 750,000 homes), support 300 union construction jobs, generate over $650 million in long-term tax revenue for the region, and bring needed electricity to the region to help support vehicle and building electrification.
Beyond energy, it brings lasting community benefits, including six miles of fiber-optic conduit supporting Fremont’s future broadband network and a $2.5 million contribution toward the Central Park Community Center.
This milestone reflects the power of strong public-private collaboration to deliver transformative infrastructure that will strengthen energy reliability, support future growth, advance climate action efforts, and create lasting benefits for communities across the region. We’re excited to see the long-term impact this project will have on the South Bay and Fremont for years to come.
Fremont’s annual State of the City Address will take place on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Downtown Event Center, 3500 Capitol Ave. Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan will cover the issues and opportunities facing the City of Fremont. The event is free and open to the public (no ticket required).
The City of Fremont ranked No. 1 as best place to raise a family in the country for five consecutive years according to a recent study conducted by Wallet Hub. Fremont offers the perfect spot to settle down—with its family-friendly attractions and strong business presence, Fremont truly has it all.
The City of Fremont continues investing in park infrastructure with new and upgraded restroom facilities across the city. Five new prefabricated restrooms have recently opened, including at California Nursery Historical Park and four locations throughout Central Park at Babbling Brook, Lions Picnic Area, Soccer Complex, and the Tennis Center, helping improve convenience and accessibility for park visitors.
Additional restroom projects are currently under construction at Centerville Community Park, Irvington Park and Northgate Park, with completion anticipated by the end of 2026.
The City is also working towards ten additional restroom improvement projects in the upcoming years. Planned upgrades in 2027 include new prefabricated restrooms at Central Park (Kennedy Play Area and Sailway locations) and Niles Town Plaza, along with remodels of existing restroom buildings at Niles Community Park, Karl Nordvik Park, and Sylvester P. Harvey Park. In 2028, planned projects include: Central Park: Five Palms, Los Cerritos, Mission San Jose, and Old Mission Community Park.
The City of Fremont offers a wide variety of camps throughout the summer. Starting June 3 through August 10, weekly camps are available for youth ages 5 to 17. Camp themes include Academic Enrichment, Arts, Cooking, Aquatics, Dance, Theater, Sports, STEM, and more.
With flexible options available, families can choose from half-day or full-day camps, with extended care offered at select locations. Some camps also provide convenient lunch add-ons.
Don’t miss out! Register today before spots fill up.
On Thursday, May 7, the City’s Youth and Family Services and Aging and Family Services Divisions marked Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and Older Americans Month by celebrating the winners of the annual Intergenerational Art Competition. Centered on the shared theme, “This is My Place: Power of Belonging,” this year's competition drew 90 original submissions from youth, older adults, and intergenerational teams.
All entries were on display at the Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth during the reception and awards ceremony. Artists, families, and supporters gathered to enjoy refreshments, view the full gallery of work, and celebrate the award recipients. In its third year as an intergenerational competition, the event highlights the creativity that thrives across generations in Fremont.
The Bay Area Air District (Air District) is postponing any action on its proposed rule for the sale and installation of water heaters for homeowners and businesses.
The proposed rule would phase out the sale and installation of new gas‑powered water heaters over the next several years, with the goal of reducing air pollution and supporting regional clean air goals. If an existing gas water heater were to fail, it would need to be replaced with a compliant, zero-emission electric water heater. Homeowners and businesses would not be required to remove or replace current, functioning equipment.
Over the past two years, the Air District Board and the Stationary Source Committee have instructed staff to evaluate concerns about affordability and equipment availability and to address these issues through proposed amendments and exemptions. Public input has been incorporated throughout the process.
The Air District Board is expected to revisit the item in October and take action on the final rule language.
The City will continue to monitor the process and share updates with the community as more information becomes available.
For questions, additional details, or to share feedback, visit the Air District webpage.
The East Bay Paratransit Access Committee (EBPAC) is seeking interested individuals to serve their community by advising East Bay Paratransit on best practices for service improvements and addressing the needs of riders. Consider applying for the Southern Alameda County vacancy. Applicants must receive East Bay Paratransit services and live in Fremont, Newark, or Union City.
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