Whether you dial 911, 745.3411 or 745.3412, Benicia Public Safety Dispatchers are standing by to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2019 alone, they answered 5,928 911 calls. 99.6% were answered in under 10 seconds, well exceeding the NENA (National Emergency Number Association) standard of 90% in under 10 seconds. Dispatchers answered 51,460 non-emergency calls. Though not standardized, 98.53% of the non-emergency calls were answered in under 10 seconds.

An example of how Dispatchers serve: 

Candidates for the Benicia City Council will have the opportunity to participate in a Candidates’ Forum on Saturday, October 31 at 10 a.m. All candidates running for Council Member and Mayor in the November 3 election have been invited to attend.

The forum, sponsored by the City's Open Government Commission, will be broadcasted live on Zoom and on local government Channel 27.

At the forum, voters will have an opportunity to hear candidates discuss any ‘hit pieces’ distributed before the election. Members of the public are encouraged to send questions relating to ‘hit pieces’ for candidates to answer at the forum to the City Attorney, Benjamin Stock, at bstock@ci.benicia.ca.us by close of business on Thursday, October 29.

The Solano County Registrar of Voters (ROV) is reminding residents that Tuesday, October 27 is the last day the ROV can mail ballots to voters for the November 3 General Election. Voters who have not yet received a ballot for this election should contact the ROV by or before Tuesday.

The ROV has extended its office hours on Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. to give voters additional time to register to vote. Voters who are still not registered by Election Day can visit any polling location for same-day registration, giving them the option to participate in the General Election.

The ROV encourages voters to take advantage of no-contact voting options by using one of 16 secure ballot boxes located throughout the County. Starting on Thursday, October 29, an additional 10 curbside ballot drop-off locations will open, allowing voters a convenient and safe way to drop off their ballots. For more information, including ballot box and curbside drop-off locations, visit the ROV website at www.SolanoCounty.com/Elections and click the “Ballot Drop-Off Sites” and Curbside Drop-Off Sites links.

Early Voting is available at the Registrar of Voter’s Office, located at the Solano County Administration Center, 675 Texas St, Suite 2600, in Fairfield. Details on voting options, polling locations and key election dates are all available on the Registrar of Voter’s website, www.SolanoCounty.com/Elections, by email at Elections@SolanoCounty.com and by phone at 707.784.6675.

Since the start of the pandemic the City of Benicia, through the Office of Economic Development has worked to implement programs designed to aid our business community through this very difficult time. We are now looking ahead on how best to aid our businesses and local economy through the next phase of the pandemic and beyond.

To aid City Staff in developing the initiatives to meet our changing economic landscape we need the help of Benicia residents with some information on your shopping habits. The information shared about outside dining and online shopping are essential to the City in formulating successful programs.

Click here and take 10 minutes to fill out the anonymous shopping survey before November 1. If you’re comfortable in leaving your contact information, you will be entered into a random drawing for one of three prizes of $100 in Downtown Dollars. Downtown Dollars spend like cash at more than 60 downtown businesses. Feel free to share with other Benicia residents.

Your input makes a big difference. Thank you!

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 1. Benicia Fire Department encourages you to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors while changing your clocks to “fall back" one hour. It is recommended that you test your alarms every month, replace batteries every year and replace alarms every ten years.

The U.S. Fire Administration instructs to install smoke alarms on every level of the home and inside and outside each sleeping area.

Did you know? Half of home fire deaths happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep? If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Call the fire department from a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone. Stay outside until the fire department says it’s safe to go back inside.

For questions about smoke and carbon monoxide detector safety, call Benicia Fire Department at 707.746.4275.

Visit Benicia, the tourism arm of the City's Office of Economic Development, invites you to participate in the 3rd Digital Photo Contest. They are looking for striking digital images to celebrate your Benicia experience! Your images should highlight the fun, adventure and charm of Benicia.

*Downtown Dollars spend just like cash in more than 60 Benicia locations!

Looking for a new job or a change in career? The City of Benicia Human Resources Department is accepting applications for the following positions:

To apply for any of these positions, the application and supplemental forms may be found online, then click the job title. Employment applications may also be obtained from, and must be returned to, Human Resources at 250 East L Street, Benicia. Sign up with Job Interest Cards to be notified of future position openings when they occur.