Your Government » Departments & Offices » Office of the City Manager

San José City Manager's Monthly Connect

Subscribe and receive the San José City Manager's Monthly Connect via email as it is released.

You can browse additional San José City Manager's Monthly Connect archives via the "Archived News" link below.

San José City Manager's Monthly Connect: Wednesday, December 3, 2025

San Jose City Hall on a cloudy day

City of San José News

San José City Hall Closed Dec. 24, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026: While most City services will be closed in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays, public safety and utility services will operate.
  • San José Fire Department: Emergency services will continue to operate as normal. The San José Fire Department's administrative offices will be closed for the holidays.

  • Garbage and Recycling Service: Garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings collection will not occur on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2025, or New Years Day, Jan. 1, 2026. If your regular weekly collection day falls on or after either of those dates, your collection will be delayed by one day. Visit www.sanjoseca.gov/311 to report missed collections and damaged carts or to change cart size. Visit www.sjenvironment.org/lookup to locate your collection companies.

    • Holiday Tree Recycling: The curbside collection of holiday trees will be on your regular collection day from Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 30, 2026. Remove stands, tinsel, and decorations; and set out by 6 a.m. Residents without curbside Yard Trimming collection service may consult their property management for proper setout instructions and locations onsite. Multi-family dwelling property managers should contact GreenWaste at 408-283-4800 to arrange for tree collection.

    • Extra Garbage: If you have too much holiday trash, buy Extra Garbage Stickers for $6.25 at all San José Libraries, Lucky, and Safeway stores or at the cashier window at San José City Hall.

  • San José Clean Energy Customer Contact Center: The San José Clean Energy contact center will be closed on Dec. 24, Dec. 25, and Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026. For more information and self-service options, visit www.sanjosecleanenergy.org or email info@sanjosecleanenergy.org.

  • Customer Contact Center (San José 311): San José 311 will be closed Dec. 24 to Dec. 25, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. An answering service will provide information and assist callers. Non-emergency requests requiring follow-up will be handled during open business hours.

  • San José Animal Care and Services: The San José Animal Care Center (ACS) will be closed Dec. 24 to Dec. 25, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. For more information about finding your lost pet, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/animal-care-services/pet-parent-services/find-a-lost-pet.

  • San José Public Library: All San José Public Library (SJPL) locations will be closed Dec. 24 to Dec. 25, 2025, for the Christmas holiday, and Jan. 1, 2026, for New Year’s Day. The library’s eBook collection, eLearning resources, and streaming services are always available at www.sjpl.org.

  • Happy Hollow Park & Zoo will be Open for Winter Break: The park and zoo will be open daily, from Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be closed Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 and on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Join us for a New Year’s party just for the kids at Happy Hollow’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration, beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, for some family-friendly entertainment and a countdown to noon.

  • San José Community Centers and Regional Parks: Visit the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Seasonal Closure page for park and community center hours. (www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/parks-recreation-neighborhood-services/general-information/seasonal-closures).

  • Development Services Permits Center: The Permit Center will be closed Dec. 24, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026. Online permitting services will be available at www.sjpermits.org.
San José City Council Recess: The last San José City Council meeting of 2025 will be on Dec. 16. The next City Council meeting will be on Jan. 13, 2026. You can watch live meetings on the City’s YouTube Channel.

San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) Holiday Travel: What’s New This Season
From courtesy carts to Gratitude Trees, SJC is rolling out new comforts and festive touches to make traveling to see loved ones a little smoother this holiday season.
  • Apple Digital ID Now Accepted at SJC Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Checkpoints: Travelers at SJC can now use Apple Digital ID at TSA security checkpoints for travel in the United States. Apple recently launched Digital ID, allowing users to create a secure ID in Apple Wallet using information from their U.S. passport and present it with an iPhone or Apple Watch. Digital ID offers an additional option for passengers, including those who may not have a REAL ID-compliant license. It is not a replacement for a physical passport and cannot be used for international travel or border crossings. For more information, visit www.flysanjose.com/news-release/san-jose-mineta-international-airport-welcomes-thanksgiving-travelers.

  • California’s First Airport to Offer Fully Autonomous Rides to Travelers: There is a new way to get to and from SJC. Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service is officially operating and offers passengers a modern, convenient and reliable transportation option that aligns with Silicon Valley's innovative spirit. Book your next ride by downloading the Waymo app.

  • Courtesy Carts: Catch a ride on staffed carts running nonstop between Gates 17-31.

  • Updated Website: SJC unveiled a redesigned www.flysanjose.com to assist with making travel through Silicon Valley’s airport easier, faster and more intuitive. The redesigned site reflects SJC’s “Fly Simple” brand promise, offering travelers a clean, modern and mobile-first experience with essential information at their fingertips. The updated website was developed with input from passengers, airport partners and customer experience teams, helping travelers find what they need more quickly–including flight status, parking availability, concessions, accessibility services and more.

  • Additional Travel Tips: Check in online, be REAL ID ready, arrive early (two hours domestic, three hours international), consider TSA PreCheck®/CLEAR, review accessible services and use Cell Phone Waiting Area for pickups.

  • Victorian Carolers Return to Ring in the Season: SJC is excited to welcome back the joyful sound of Victorian carolers in its terminals, starting Dec. 20 through Dec. 23.
Traffic Safety Message Boards Deployed Across San José: As more people travel during nighttime, it's more important than ever to slow down and look out for others on the road. To help remind drivers to be safe and prevent crashes, the Transportation Department will place several electronic message boards across San José now until March 2026. To view locations and schedules, please visit www.bit.ly/dst-end-25.

Veterans Suicide Prevention Program: The Santa Clara County Office of Veteran Services is providing support for local Veterans and families. They do mental health screenings, offer peer support, crisis intervention, make connections to the Veterans Administration, and have other benefits and support to offer. For more information, contact Cynthia Estrada at 408-918-4985 or via email at cynthia.estrada02@vets.sccgov.org.

Bike Giveaway: Join the Environmental Services Department (ESD) on Dec. 16 for a special bike giveaway event at the Christmas in the Park Main Stage at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. ESD will give away 50 bikes to youth, from tricycle size to teens. In-person sign-ups will be from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m., and winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. Youth participants must be present to claim bike at time of the announcement.

Red Panda Named Twix Eating Green Leaves at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

New Red Panda at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo welcomed its newest resident, a one-year-old male red panda named Twix, who made his public debut on Saturday, Nov. 15. Twix arrived from Zoo Boise as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Red Panda Species Survival Plan, which supports the long-term genetic health of this endangered species. His arrival marks Happy Hollow’s renewed role in red panda conservation and offers families a unique chance to learn about this charismatic animal. Twix is settling into the red panda habitat well but may occasionally choose to rest in his climate-controlled night house as he acclimates. Check Happy Hollow’s operating calendar before your visit at www.happyhollow.org/visit.

San José Named #1 Digital City in the Nation: The City of San José has been ranked the #1 Digital City in the nation in the population category of 500,000 or more by the Center for Digital Government. This national recognition highlights San José’s leadership through the Information Technology Department in using innovation, data, and technology to improve government services and enhance residents' quality of life. Learn more about our City’s innovative initiatives at www.sanjoseca.gov/itd.

San Jose Public Library Winter Reading 2025 Graphic

San José Public Library (SJPL) Gears up for Winter Reading: The winter holidays are here, which means the SJPL Winter Reading program is underway. Now until Jan. 4, 2026, readers of all ages can participate by logging four hours of reading or logging four books read to qualify for grand prizes including games, toys and electronics. There are also prizes available for those who register for the program. Learn more at www.sjpl.org/WinterReading.

Winter Fest is Back at the Libraries: 'Tis the season for Santa visits, holiday crafting, festivals, and many other fun Christmas and Winter holiday events at the San José Public Library. Throughout December, a vast array of free programs is scheduled at all SJPL locations for people of all ages to attend and enjoy. View these events at www.sjpl.org/WinterFest.

December Park Volunteer Events: Volunteer to clean up San José parks with the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department. All volunteers ages 6+ are welcome to participate. Participants under 18 are required to present a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Volunteers are given the necessary tools and training and are asked to bring a water bottle, snacks, and closed-toe shoes. For a list of events and to register, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/prns-volunteer. For more information, email ParkVolunteer@sanjoseca.gov or call 408-595-3483.

Job Fair at San José City College a Success: More than 400 job seekers attended the Fall Career Fair on Nov. 12, 2025, hosted by the City Manager’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) work2future and San José City College. The event featured 41 employers, including Tesla, NORCAL Ambulance, the County of Santa Clara, Robert Half, and the San José Police Department, along with 10 resource providers like Employment Development Department and Bay Area Community Health. The successful job fair offered job seekers diverse career opportunities across multiple industries. To learn more about the services the City Manager’s OEDCA work2future provides, visit www.work2future.org.

To stay up-to-date on events, visit the City’s online calendar.
Return to full list >>