YOUR GUIDE TO CITY-RELATED NEWS AND EVENTS | | This is the final edition of Email Express for 2025. Our weekly newsletter will return on January 9, 2026. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy New Year! | | |
Gilroy City Hall Will Be Closed for the Holidays
December 24 - January 1
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Gilroy City Hall will be closed to the public starting Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026, in observance of the winter holidays.
During this closure, the following limited services will be available:
Utility Billing: Customers requesting assistance with utility billing questions and starting or stopping water service may send an email to ub@cityofgilroy.org or call the Finance main line at (408) 846-0420 during normal business hours.
Additionally, check payments can be dropped off in the UB payment drop box located at City Hall and will be monitored daily. Payments can also be made online.
Business Licenses: Customers requesting assistance with business licensing can visit our online portal at www.gilroy.hdlgov.com or call (408) 337-0318.
After-Hour Water or Sewer Emergencies, please call (408) 846-0350.
Building Inspection Services: The Community Development Department will provide limited building inspection services on a pre-arranged basis. Inspection requests must be received by 4:30 PM on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Online Development Applications: Due to processing time required, online development applications will be accepted until 4:30 PM on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Online application acceptance and processing will resume Friday, January 2, 2026.
Recreation Services: The Recreation Office will be closed to the public from December 24, 2025, through January 2, 2026. For any questions regarding parks during the office closure, please call (408) 846-0350.
As always, emergency services, including police, fire, rescue, and paramedic services, will be operating as normal throughout the holidays. If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1. For all other emergency service inquiries, please call our non-emergency police line at (408) 846-0350.
City Hall will reopen for regular business hours on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 8:30 AM.
We wish you a lovely holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the new year!
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Save the Date: Coffee with the Mayor
January 10, 2026 at 9:30 AM
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The community is invited to join Mayor Greg Bozzo for the next Coffee with the Mayor on Saturday, January 10, 2026. This edition of Coffee with the Mayor doesn’t have a set topic; rather, residents are encouraged to bring questions, ideas, and thoughts about anything related to our city.
To ensure everyone can participate, Spanish-language interpretation will be provided through Wordly.
✅ Coffee with the Mayor
✅ Date: January 10, 2026
✅ Time: 9:30 AM
✅ Location: Council Chambers at Gilroy City Hall located at 7351 Rosanna Avenue
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Voting Information for Gilroy Residents
Special Runoff Election: December 30, 2025
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A Special Runoff Election for the County of Santa Clara Office of the Assessor is coming up, and we want to make sure every Gilroy resident has the information they need to vote.
📅 Special Runoff Election: Tuesday, December 30, 2026
🕘 Election Day Voting Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
✅ Vote Early or on Election Day
Vote centers are open for multiple days leading up to the election. You can vote in person, drop off your ballot, or get assistance with registration and replacement ballots.
Gilroy Vote Center Locations (hours vary by date and location):
South Valley Middle School
385 IOOF Avenue, Gilroy, CA 95020
(Open December 20-30)
Gilroy Library – Meeting Room
350 W Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA 95020
(Open December 27-30)
Ballot Drop Boxes Available Now
Secure ballot drop boxes are available throughout Gilroy, including at Gilroy City Hall, located at 7351 Rosanna Street.
For more information about Vote Center Locations or ballot drop boxes, visit www.sccvote.org or call (408) 299-VOTE (8683).
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Planning for the Future
Gilroy Blue Skies Initiative
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The City of Gilroy recently received a grant from Caltrans to develop a Climate Action Plan to improve air quality and well-being through investments in clean air, transportation, energy efficiency, and resilience. The initiative, called the Gilroy Blue Skies Initiative, is led by the City and will bring together residents, businesses, and local organizations to envision a healthier, more vibrant future for Gilroy. Following the visioning phase, a plan will be developed that will guide future planning and development for our community.
Potential Benefits for Gilroy:
- Cleaner air and healthier communities
- Lower energy bills and transportation costs
- Job creation and local economic growth
- Safer streets and better connections to jobs and schools
- More green spaces and other local investment
- Enhanced community resilience
There will be multiple opportunities to share your input and feedback throughout the visioning process. More information will be provided in the coming weeks and months, including information regarding upcoming community meetings and surveys.
To learn more about the project and to get involved, visit the project website: www.cityofgilroy.org/blueskies
Questions? Email: gilroyblueskies@cityofgilroy.org
Thank you for helping to shape our city's future.
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Beyond Gilroy
A Grant-Funded Environmental Education Program for Eligible Students
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The City of Gilroy Recreation Division, in partnership with Save Our Shores, a Santa Cruz-based environmental organization, invites eligible middle school students (6th to 8th grade) who live in Gilroy Unified School District boundary lines to a free opportunity for discovery and exploration of oceanic and natural life in the Monterey Bay area.
Beyond Gilroy: Nature, Exploration and Empowerment is a state grant-funded program that will begin in January 2026 and run through May 2026, consisting of six weekday after-school events at the Gilroy Senior Center and four off-site field trips. Supervision will be provided by Save Our Shores and City of Gilroy Recreation staff.
Students must meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Proof of GUSD/GPS enrollment in the free or reduced-price meals program
- Proof of foster childcare
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
- Medi-Cal eligibility letter
- Food Stamps ( CalFresh)
Apply Today!
To learn more, visit Beyond Gilroy: Nature, Exploration, and Empowerment or contact the Recreation Office at 408-846-0460 or recreation@cityofgilroy.org
| | Hecker Pass Park Prepares for Summer With New Shade Structures | | |
To prepare for the warmer months, new shade structures will be installed at Hecker Pass Park, located at 1798 Third Street. As part of the project, the playground will be temporarily closed during the week of January 5, 2026, for the installation of the support posts. This closure is anticipated to last 3-4 days. The rest of the park will remain open.
Please note: the shade canopy itself will be installed 2-3 weeks later, and no additional closures are expected during that phase.
These park improvements are part of the City’s ongoing commitment to creating safe and welcoming spaces for our community. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make these improvements.
For questions about this project, please contact the Public Works Operations Division at (408)846-0424.
| | Riding Your Bike at Night | | |
Riding a bike at night can be tricky, especially when visibility is low. When cyclists are hard to see, it can create risks for everyone sharing the road. If you plan to ride your bike at night, a few simple steps can go a long way in keeping you safe.
When riding with low or no visibility:
✅ Use bright, flashing lights on the front and back of your bike.
✅ Use white or yellow reflectors on pedals or shoes
✅ Avoid wearing dark clothing
✅ Wear reflective gear to increase visibility
Staying visible helps you and others be safe.
For more bike safety tips, visit the California DMV webpage.
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Help Keep Gilroy's Creeks and Waterways Clean
Properly Dispose of Food Containers
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Food containers are one of the most common pollutants found in our local creeks.
As we enjoy holiday meals and takeout treats, remember to dispose of food containers properly so they don’t end up in the storm drains.
When littered or left on the street, plastic, styrofoam and wrappers are carried by rainwater into storm drains, which flow directly into our creeks and untreated waterways.
How You Can Help:
✅ Properly dispose of trash and recycling.
✅ Bring reusable containers when dining out.
✅ Volunteer for creek cleanups in Gilroy.
✅ Spread awareness—small actions make a difference.
Let’s keep Gilroy’s creeks clean and thriving for everyone to enjoy. 💚
Learn more about preventing stormwater pollution:
www.cityofgilroy.org/cleanwater
| | We're Hiring: Police Crime Analyst | | |
The City of Gilroy is hiring a full-time Police Crime Analyst to support the Police Department.
This critical position plays an important role in helping the department anticipate, understand, and respond strategically to crime trends. As a Crime Analyst, you will directly support smarter policing, improve resource deployment, and ultimately enhance the safety, trust, and quality of life for everyone in our community.
The ideal candidate will have experience in crime analysis, data analytics, and statistics, and be familiar with crime analysis software, digital forensic tools, and GIS systems.
Apply Today! www.cityofgilroy.org/jobs
Application deadline is January 16, 2026.
| | Santa Teresa Fire Station Staffing Report | | |
During the week of December 5, 2025, the Interim Santa Teresa Fire Station was staffed for six days.
The station will be staffed as often as possible based on available personnel and the responsible use of overtime.
When staffing is available, the station may be placed in service with:
- A Type 1 engine with three firefighters, or
- A Type 6 engine with two firefighters, depending on daily personnel availability.
There may be days when no qualified staff are available, in which case the station will be unstaffed. This is consistent with our operational approach during the winter season.
We will continue to staff the station when needed in response to heightened public safety concerns, including:
- State of emergency declarations
- Red Flag Warnings
- Fourth of July and surrounding weekends
- Potential flood conditions or other disasters
- Public events or gatherings where increased risk is identified
This weekly report is part of our ongoing commitment to transparency regarding the staffing status of the Santa Teresa Fire Station.
| | A Magical Morning With Santa | | |
What a magical morning at Breakfast with Santa! Families gathered to enjoy a delicious breakfast, meet Santa Claus, and take part in holiday-themed arts and crafts.
Guests were also treated to a special performance by talented hula dancers, adding an extra touch of holiday cheer.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped spread the holiday spirit.
See you again next year!
Stay Up To Date With the Latest Recreation Events and Activities
| | Kick Off 2026 With Taekwondo Classes at Wheeler Center | | |
Last week, students at the Wheeler Center geared into their Taekwondo class with energy and enthusiasm. This sport is a fun way to build self-control, discipline, and respect, all while getting a great workout in.
Classes are led by Gilroy Martial Arts instructors, and are open to all experience levels, ages 5 and up. Visit the Recreation Catalog to register for a class or to see upcoming sessions.
Fun Fact: Gilroy Martial Arts has been offering Taekwondo classes to the Gilroy community for over 20 years.
Sign Up for the Recreation Newsletter
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Have you noticed any potholes, water leaks, streetlight outages, tree issues, or have a neighborhood or city-related concern?
Our online service request portal and mobile app (available for download in app store), GilroyConnect, makes it easier than ever to report city-related concerns.
With just a few simple steps, you can submit your request, track your service request, and view other resident requests.
Once your request is submitted, you will have the option to create an account, which will give you access to additional features and to receive updates on your service request.
| | | Ask Gilroy: Your City, Your Questions! | | |
The Ask Gilroy feature will be on a brief pause over the next couple of weeks, but we continue to welcome your questions. The submission form remains open, and we encourage residents to share inquiries at any time.
We look forward to resuming this segment in the new year.
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Have you ever wondered about Gilroy's infrastructure, upcoming developments, municipal services, or important community events? Your curiosity fuels our mission to provide you with answers.
📢 How It Works:
Ask Away: Drop your questions in the “Ask Gilroy” survey form
We Answer: Each week, we'll pick a question and provide a detailed answer in our weekly email
Stay Informed: Sign up for our emails to access our answers and stay in the loop.
It's time to unlock the mysteries of Gilroy together! Let's dive into the heart of our community and discover what makes our city tick.
👉 Ready to ask? Drop your questions in the survey form linked below and let’s go! 🚀
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City of Gilroy
Office Hours
Gilroy City Hall is open to the public Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, and on Friday by appointment only.
City of Gilroy
(408) 846-0219
7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy, CA 95020
www.cityofgilroy.org
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