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The annual Holiday Tree Lighting is set for Friday, Dec. 5 from 5:30–8 p.m.! Head to Central Park, 909 Kiely Blvd., for festive music, food trucks, photos with Santa, and a brand-new Holiday Market featuring local arts and craft vendors—perfect for holiday gift shopping. Be part of the magic as we gather to watch our 2025 Honorary Tree Lighter, Wanda Buck, illuminate the magnificent tree and kick off the season in true Santa Clara style! Visit SantaClaraCA.gov/TreeLighting for more information.
It’s here! The 2026 Winter Activity Guide is now available on our website, in-person at our facilities, and has been mailed to Santa Clara residents. Warm up the season with a flurry of classes, workshops and drop-in programs.
- Santa Clara resident registration opens Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7 a.m.
- Non-Resident registration opens Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 a.m.
Head over to SantaClaraCA.gov/ActiveNet to get involved!
 Starting January 1, 2026 the City of Santa Clara’s minimum wage will increase to $18.70 per hour.
- All employers doing business in the City of Santa Clara will be required to pay each employee who performs at least two hours of work a week at least $18.70 per hour.
- The City’s minimum wage is adjusted annually based on the regional consumer price index.
- Employers are required to post a notice at the workplace of the current and prospective minimum wage rates and the employees’ rights under the City’s Minimum Wage Ordinance.
The 2026 Minimum Wage Posters for the workplace will be available by November 1, 2025 at santaclaraca.gov/minimumwage.
There will be no solid waste collection on Thursday, Dec. 25 or Thursday, Jan.1. During these weeks, collection will occur one day later, from Friday through Saturday. Residents with garbage cart service may set out up to two additional 32-gallon garbage bags (maximum weight 30 pounds) on their collection days between Dec. 26 and Jan. 7 at no extra charge. Commercial and multi-family registered account holders with front-load bin service may arrange for one free extra pickup per garbage account per year by contacting Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365.
 The holiday season is here, and it’s time to brighten up Santa Clara for the annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest! The Cultural Commission welcomes all residents—whether in homes, apartments, condos, or townhomes—to showcase their holiday spirit with outdoor décor. The contest runs through Dec. 19, with judging based on exterior decorations only. Let’s light up the season, Santa Clara! More details about rules, restrictions, and how to enter can be found at SantaClaraCA.gov/Contest.
On Dec. 9, 2025, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) will propose a 4% rate increase to the City Council, set to take effect in January 2026. This adjustment is necessary to manage rising material and construction costs, as well as to fund new projects and maintain reserves in line with city growth. Despite the increase, Santa Clara’s electricity rates will remain among the lowest for California utilities serving more than 10,000 customers.
This rate adjustment is essential to maintaining a reliable power system for Santa Clara’s future.
For those looking to manage their energy usage and lower their electric bills, SVP offers a variety of online resources, including appliance rebates, energy-saving tips, and a Tool Lending Library to measure plug loads from devices like televisions, video game consoles, and computers. Visit SiliconValleyPower.com/Residents for more information.
Income-qualified customers may be eligible for a rate discount of up to 40%. Learn more and see eligibility requirements at SiliconValleyPower.com/Assist.
Residential holiday trees will be collected curbside on regular garbage collection days during the week of Jan. 5 - 9, 2026. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, nails, and the stand. To dispose of your tree after Jan. 9, cut it up and place the pieces in your green yard trimmings cart. Flocked trees should be cut up and placed in your garbage cart. For more information on holiday tree collection and set-out instructions, visit SantaClaraCA.gov/CleanSC or call 408-615-3080.
The holiday season is upon us, which means celebrating with family, friends, and food! Follow these tips for planning an eco-friendly celebration this holiday season:
- Create a meal plan using the calculator at SaveTheFood.com to estimate how much food is needed based on the number of guests.
- Take inventory of the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer before grocery shopping to prevent overbuying and additional food waste.
- Stick to your shopping list - this will keep you from overbuying and keep you on budget!
- Ditch the paper and plastic and opt for reusable glass and cloth items instead, which are both beautiful and keep unnecessary items out of the landfill!
- Encourage your guests to bring their own reusable containers for leftovers.
 Recology South Bay and the City of Santa Clara invite you to share the warmth by donating new or gently used coats for those in need this winter season. Through Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, collection barrels will be available at the following City locations during regular business hours:
Drop-Off Locations:
- Mission Branch Library - 1098 Lexington St.
- Central Park Library - 2635 Homestead Road
- Northside Branch Library - 695 Moreland Way
- Community Recreation Center - 969 Kiely Blvd.
Questions? Email environment@santaclaraca.gov.
 This season, take a moment to appreciate the workers behind the scenes who provide your loved ones with clean water. From those who sample water weekly to ensure it meets state and federal standards, to those who upgrade aging infrastructure and design new pipelines, our taps would not deliver water without them.
It’s equally important to value the individuals who keep our sanitary sewer flowing, ensuring public health and safety. Sewer crews respond to cleanout requests and other needs throughout the year. Help them (and yourself!) by keeping fat, oil, and grease out of kitchen drains this holiday. Costly backups are easily avoided by scraping cooled fats into the trash.
The gifts of fresh water and indoor plumbing are often overlooked; appreciate the Water & Sewer Utilities staff who make them possible this holiday.
Start the New Year with less clutter around your home! Free Disposal Day takes place Saturday, Jan. 10, 6 a.m. - noon at the Mission Trail Waste Systems (MTWS) Transfer Station. It provides residents an opportunity to dispose of appliances and e-waste items, as well as mattresses, furniture, and other bulky items at no cost.
To participate, call MTWS at 408-727-5365 between Dec. 29 – Jan. 9 to make an appointment and for details on location, load size limits and accepted/non-accepted materials. Proof of residency (utility bill or driver’s license) is required and residents are responsible for unloading their vehicles. Hazardous waste (e.g. paints, fluorescent bulbs, chemical cleaners, and pesticides, etc.), automotive parts, and pressure treated wood are prohibited.
 Did you know that the holiday season generates a lot of household hazardous waste (HHW)? Electronic toys, batteries, and holiday lights are considered HHW and should never be placed in your garbage bin. Safely dispose of these items at our free drop-off event on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Santa Clara. This is the perfect opportunity to get rid of old paint, chemical cleaners, pesticides, fluorescent lamps, medications, and sharps, among other things. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, contact the County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 408-299-7300 or visit hhw.org.
NOTE: For medication disposal, please remove all patient information on the package and place the drugs in a separate container before arrival. We also accept unwanted medication for pets.
Job Opportunities
Join the Center of What’s Possible! View all job opportunities and for information on how to apply, visit SantaClaraCA.gov/Jobs.
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City Council & Commission Meetings
View upcoming City Council Study Sessions, joint Council/Commission meetings, as well as Council Public Hearing and general business agenda items online at Legislative Public Meetings on the City website at SantaClaraCA.gov/Meetings.
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