 The 8th Santa Clara City Library Comic Con is taking place this Saturday, Oct. 10, at Central Park Library. The event will run all day from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and is free to attend. There will be activities for all ages including retro crafts; panels with creative leaders from the comics and pop culture world; workshops on cosplay, gaming and animation; photo opportunities with your favorite characters; and lots more! Comic Con is the Library's way of opening our doors to celebrate creativity, community and the sheer joy of fandom. Come see for yourself and enjoy a magical, free, all-ages day of cosplay, art and imagination.
Regular library services will also be available during this time. Residents looking for a more traditional library experience are invited to visit our Northside Branch Library on Saturday for regular hours. Mission Branch Library will be closed to support Comic Con.
 Halloween is creeping close, and we want to see your most creative, colorful, and spooky home displays in our annual Halloween Home Decorating Contest! The Cultural Commission invites Santa Clara residents to enter, beginning, Thursday, Oct. 8 through Monday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. For the submission form and more information, visit santaclaraca.gov/contests.
 Starting Jan. 1, 2027 the City of Santa Clara’s minimum wage will increase to $19.25 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 $19.25 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 2027 Minimum Wage Posters for the workplace will be available by November 1, 2026 on the website at SantaClaraCA.gov/MinimumWage.
For more information, email minimumwage@santaclaraca.gov
Recology South Bay is hosting an Environmental Day for Santa Clara residents on Saturday, Oct.17, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., at 1675 Rogers Ave. in San Jose. Environmental Day is designed to promote recycling, reuse, and diversion of usable materials from the landfill. Residents are invited to bring the following accepted materials:
- Documents for confidential shredding (limited to two banker-sized boxes)
- E-waste (computers, monitors, printers, etc.)
- Universal waste (batteries, cell phones, CFLs and fluorescent tubes)
- Clothing and shoes (in good condition for donation)
Residents must provide a current utility bill and personal identification to verify eligibility. No appointment required. Contact Recology South Bay at 408-970-5100 with questions.
 The City of Santa Clara is seeking input from those who live or work in Santa Clara on what matters most to them when housing is removed, replaced, repaired, or redeveloped. The short survey will help identify community priorities related to housing, tenant protections, and possible future policy options.
Provide your feedback before the survey closes on Oct. 20.
 The City Council unanimously approved placing Measure C on the Nov. 3 ballot for voters to consider. Measure C would amend City Charter provisions for public works contracting originally adopted in 1952, including increasing the City Council approval threshold from $1,000 to $250,000, continuing competitive bidding for most public works contracts, allowing limited exceptions to formal bidding requirements, permitting alternative contracting methods such as design-build when authorized by the City Council, and retaining the City’s authority to use City employees for public works.
The City will have an informational community meeting on Oct. 22 at Central Library. Visit the City's Measure C webpage for additional information.
 Thinking about switching to an EV? Silicon Valley Power (SVP) offers rebates to income-qualified customers to help make EV ownership more affordable.
As part of its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and supporting cleaner transportation, eligible customers may receive rebates when purchasing a qualifying pre-owned electric vehicle:
- $1,500 for an eligible used EV
- $1,000 for an eligible used plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
- $1,000 bonus rebate for vehicles rated 117 MPGe or higher
- $1,000 bonus rebate for customers meeting LIHEAP income eligibility
SVP rebates may be combined with other available incentives, including California’s MyFirstEV incentive. Learn more about eligibility and current offerings on SVP’s EV & E-bike Incentives webpage.
California’s MyFirstEV Incentive: California is also offering a new MyFirstEV incentive for first-time buyers or lessees of eligible zero-emission vehicles. Eligible customers can receive up to $3,500 for a new vehicle or $1,750 for a used vehicle. The incentive is provided through a combination of State and participating manufactures incentives. Visit the incentive webpage to review eligibility, qualifying vehicles, and program details.
If you are considering your first EV, review both SVP and California programs to identify the incentives for which you may qualify. Driving an EV can help reduce transportation-related emissions and potentially lower fuel and maintenance costs over time.
Residents can safely dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) at the free drop-off event on Saturday, Oct. 24 in Santa Clara. Appointments are required. Call the County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 408-299-7300 or visit hhw.org to make an appointment.
This event is the perfect opportunity to dispose of old paint, chemical cleaners, pesticides, fluorescent lamps, medications, sharps, and other hazardous waste materials. Hazardous materials should never be placed in curbside collection carts, as they can pose risks to people, property, and the environment.
NOTE: For medication disposal, remember to remove the patient’s information on the package and place it in a separate container before arrival. Unwanted pet medications are also accepted.
 In celebration and recognition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Mission City Memorial Park is partnering with the Santa Clara City Library for a special evening featuring a community ofrenda, storytelling, and a showing of Disney Pixar’s Coco (PG).
In theme with the movie’s story about family, our connections to those who came before us, and the importance of remembering them, this event aims to offer an opportunity to learn about Día de los Muertos. Our top priority is that everyone stays safe and respectful, and the movie will be shown in the open “Evergreen Section” of the cemetery that does not house graves.
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Date/time: Friday, Oct. 23 | Movie begins around 6 p.m.
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Location: Mission City Memorial Park, 420 N. Winchester Blvd.
The Community Ofrenda will be open to the public through Friday, Nov. 6. Members of the community are welcome to bring labeled framed photos & other small mementos that remind families of their loved ones. Frames must be no larger than 5 x 7 inches. We ask the public to refrain from bringing candles, food or glass items.
More information is available at SantaClaraCA.gov/SunsetCinema.
Halloween is all about creativity, fun, and bringing the community together. It’s also a great opportunity to make choices that reduce waste and conserve resources. Small actions such as reusing costumes and decorations, reducing single-use items, and giving materials a second life can help support Santa Clara’s broader sustainability and climate goals outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP).
Here are a few simple ways to make your Halloween celebration more sustainable without taking away from the fun:
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Reuse or DIY Costumes: Use clothes and materials you already have, or shop secondhand. Swap or donate costumes after Halloween.
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Reuse Decorations: Bring out decorations from previous years or make your own. Choose durable items you can use again.
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Reduce Treat Packaging: Look for treats with less packaging or recyclable packaging when possible.
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Choose Reusable Tableware: For Halloween parties, use reusable plates, utensils, cups, and glassware instead of disposable items.
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Give Items a Second Life: Save, swap, or donate costumes, decorations, and party supplies instead of throwing them away.
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Make Waste Reduction a Fun Family Activity: Turn everyday items that might otherwise be thrown away into Halloween crafts or decorations. Create spooky decorations from cardboard boxes, paper, jars, or other materials you already have at home and have fun making them with your kids.
These simple choices help reduce waste and make the most of the resources we already have.
 Calling all little monsters, ghosts, and Halloween lovers! Get ready to celebrate spooky season at the 2026 Children’s SpooktaClara Halloween Party! Make sure to mark your calendar for a fang-tastic trick-or-treat tow, carnival games, entertainment, and a cauldron full of surprises!
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Time: 12 - 4 p.m.
Location: Central Park, 909 Kiely Blvd.
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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