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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, sharps, and other hazardous waste materials. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, contact the County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 408-299-7300 or visit hhw.org.
 As of Jan. 1, 2026 the City of Santa Clara’s minimum wage is $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 are available at SantaClaraCA.gov/MinimumWage.
The Youth & Teen Center, 2450 Cabrillo Ave., offers basketball programs for all ages! From structured youth instruction to open gym for teens and adults, participants can develop skills, stay active, and enjoy the game in a welcoming environment.
Youth Basketball Program
- Saturdays beginning Jan. 24, 2026 (4-week session)
- Register online today.
High School & Adult Basketball Open Gym
- Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Youth Membership Card or Adult Activity Pass required for participation.
Check out the Drop-in Basketball Calendar beginning the week of Jan.14 for the full schedule.
Do you have a family recipe that's always a crowd-pleaser? Do you enjoy writing poems or stories? Do you have an artistic eye for capturing the beauty of nature? The Santa Clara City Library is collecting recipes, creative writing and original artwork for a one-of-a-kind community cookbook to be published this summer, and we want to hear from you! Please submit your pieces about food and/or nature to the Library by March 31. This opportunity is open to all community members age 18 or older. Full submission guidelines available on our website.
NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Special thanks to The Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends for facilitating this grant.
 The Santa Clara City Council approved a 4% Silicon Valley Power (SVP) rate adjustment, which has taken effect as of January 2026.
This approved rate increase will help SVP manage rising material and construction costs, support critical infrastructure projects, and maintain appropriate reserves as Santa Clara continues to grow. These investments are essential to maintaining a safe, reliable, and resilient electric system for our community.
Even with this adjustment, Santa Clara’s electricity rates will remain among the lowest of California utilities serving more than 10,000 customers.
SVP is committed to helping customers manage energy use and control costs. A variety of tools and programs are available, including:
Learn more at SiliconValleyPower.com/Residents.
Additionally, income-qualified customers may be eligible for a rate discount of up to 40%. Eligibility requirements and application information are available at SiliconValleyPower.com/Assist.
 A Composting Basics Workshop will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Community Recreation Center, 969 Kiely Blvd. Registration is required and limited to 12 participants. Register online to reserve your spot. The workshop will provide practical knowledge on how to build, maintain, and troubleshoot a home vermicompost bin, as well as how to apply finished compost. For more information, contact the Department of Public Works at Environment@SantaClaraCA.gov or by calling 408-615-3080.
No wipes are sewer safe! Even wipes that claim to be flushable do not break down in pipes. The Governor approved AB 818 (Bloom) in 2021, which requires “Do Not Flush” labelling of disposable wipes in California to help alleviate stress on sewer systems statewide. Flushing wipes hurts everyone.
Water & Sewer Utilities staff find that wipes are the source of all too many sewer clogs in Santa Clara. Throw all wipes in the trash to avoid:
- Messy sewer backups into your home.
- Plumber costs associated with wipe removal or damage to your lateral.
- Sewer rate increases from damage to the wastewater collection system.
Only flush human waste and toilet paper. Learn more at SantaClaraCA.gov/SewerProblem
Kids Rock is back and ready to enter an animal Zootropolis! K-5th grade participants, come join us for a night of Zoo animal themed recreation games, activities, and crafts. A snack and drink will be provided. Athletic shoes (no crocs or slides), good attitudes, and pre-registration is required.
Date/Time: Friday, Jan. 16 | 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Youth & Teen Center, 2450 Cabrillo Ave.
Santa Clara City Library is pleased to announce expanded Saturday hours at the Central Park Library beginning Jan. 10, 2026. The library will now remain open until 5 p.m. on Saturdays, giving the community additional access to collections, spaces, and services throughout the weekend. Saturdays has been one of the most popular days for our community to visit the library, with an average of about 1300 people visiting Central Park Library each Saturday.
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of resources during the extended hours, and we look forward to welcoming more community members into the library as we continue to enhance access and support lifelong learning. Northside and Mission Library Branches' Saturday hours will remain the same.
 The Senior Center will have new hours: Monday – Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Check out SantaClaraCA.gov/SeniorCenter for current programs and offerings.
Move Your Way! GroupX at the Senior Center is a pass-based, drop-in exercise program designed to fit your schedule. Choose the classes that work for you and pay only for the ones you attend—flexible, fun, and stress-free. View the GroupX monthly calendar at SantaClaraCA.gov/Memberships to see current class offerings.
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Start the New Year with less clutter! Free Disposal Day takes place on 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. Call MTWS at 408-727-5365 between by Friday, 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 will not be accepted. To safely dispose of household hazardous items, check out our next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event on Saturday, Jan. 24.
 Join us at the Santa Clara Seed Share for an afternoon of spring gardening inspiration! Swap seeds, plant cuttings, pots, connect with fellow gardeners, and enjoy a free seed giveaway. The event also features a community garden tour at 3 p.m., a Master Gardener seed-starting demo at 3:30 p.m., and a visit from the City of Santa Clara Seed Library.
Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 31 | 2–4 p.m.
Location: Eddie Souza Community Garden, 2380 Monroe St.
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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