Watsonville Police Department to host AB 481 community meeting

The Watsonville Police Department will be holding a community meeting to discuss Assembly Bill 481 and its requirements. 

AB 481 took effect on January 1, 2022, and requires each law enforcement agency's governing body to adopt a written ...

Spirit of Watsonville 4th of July Parade makes a comeback

The Spirit of Watsonville 4th of July Parade is making a comeback this year! 

The parade, which proceeds down Main Street from St. Patrick’s Church to First Street, is scheduled to start at noon with thousands of spectators in attendance...

Celebrate our School Waste Reduction Hero Award winners with us!

Students, cafeteria staff, custodians, and teachers are our everyday heroes in reducing school waste.

Waste Hero Award 22 by Tami Stolzenthaler

The School Waste Reduction Hero Awards recognize local schools that recycle food scraps in the green organics collection containers, recover food for families, and reduce plastic and litter, helping reduce waste an...

Watsonville Municipal Airport opens its doors to hundreds of elementary school students

Hundreds of fourth-grade students from Watsonville have been getting a first-hand look at what goes on at the Watsonville Municipal Airport for the past three months. 

It’s all part of an “Aviation Adventure” co-created by the airport, aviation bu...

Watsonville Fire partners with American Red Cross to install free smoke alarms

?????????? ?????? ??????????: The Watsonville Fire Department has teamed up with the American Red Cross to install free smoke alarms in our community this month! 

Functioning smoke alarms can cut the risk of death from home fires in half. ...

Phone scammers target Watsonville residents

We have received dozens of calls from Watsonville residents expressing their concerns over a phone call claiming they must make a payment to avoid having their water services shut off. 

This is a scam. Please do not make any payments over the phon...

Summer in the City interns enroll at Cabrillo College

As part of our Summer in the City internship program for high schoolers, more than two dozen students officially enrolled at Cabrillo College this week!

During the 5-week internship, they will earn 10 high school elective credits and two career skills cert...

RFP - Occupational Health and Safety Consultant

Poets' Circle in June

Tune into our Poets’ Circle and open mic ~ featuring Stan Rushworth on June 2nd

Tune into our Poets’ Circle and open mic ~ hosted by Magdalena Montagne, our virtual program will feature teacher, writer and speaker: Stan Rushworth, and will take place on Thursday, June 2 from 5-7 pm.

No registration is required for this live ...

Graphic Novel Contest for Youth

Are you an aspiring comic creator? Students in grades K - 12th are invited to submit their comic art between May 1 and June 5.

Are you an aspiring comic creator? Want to brag to your friends? Show us what you’ve got! Submit your comic art between May 1 and June 5. Winners will be announced June 10! For students in K - 12th grade. 

¿Quieres ser un crea...

Watsonville Library Graphic Novel Contest

Love to doodle? Are you an aspiring comic creator? Enter our Graphic Novel Contest!

Are you an aspiring comic creator? Want to brag to your friends? Show us what you’ve got! Submit your comic art between May 1 and June 5. Winners will be announced June 10! https://bit.ly/3MEgqdh 

¿Quieres ser un creador de c&...

CALLING ALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Free Info Session to Access $500 for your Business and Go Green for Earth Month!

The California Green Business Network is pleased to present a Sustainable Business Challenge for businesses in the area! Businesses are eligible for $500 in incentives as long as they complete their certification between April 1st and June 30th, 2022. In ...

City crews begin rolling out new green bins to residents

Crews from our Solid Waste Division are on a roll delivering thousands of green bins as part of our Residential Organics Collection Service. 

Watsonville residents will now be able to place their food waste from their kitchen, as well as yard wast...

Behind Every Employer - Free Business Resource

Behind Every Employer Santa Cruz County is a NO-COST service connecting businesses/employers to assistance with recruiting talent, identifying needed workforce training, consulting about challenges facing a business, finding information about the local ma...

Sewer Improvements on Freedom and Green Valley to Begin in May

The company K.J. Woods Construction, Inc. is scheduled to begin work on Freedom Blvd. and Green Valley Rd. in May to install new sanitary sewers and water mains. This work is expected to be completed in December of this year and will involve some street e...

Event of the Year!

Rene Mendez appointed as new Watsonville City Manager

We are thrilled to announce that the Watsonville City Council unanimously appointed Rene Mendez as the new City Manager!

Rene comes to the City of Watsonville with three decades of experience in state, county, and city government and has spent the last 17 ...

Watsonville City Council to consider appointing Rene Mendez as new City Manager

This coming Tuesday, Watsonville City Council members will consider appointing Rene Mendez as the new City Manager for the City of Watsonville during their regular Council Meeting. 

The executive search conducted by Peckham and McKenney to hire a ...

City of Watsonville continues to help renters impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

The City of Watsonville continues to help residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are unable to pay their rent. 

Our emergency rental assistance program is designed to assist Watsonville low-income renters who have not applie...

Final City Council District Map Now Available

An updated map of the seven City Council districts within our City is now available. 

The latest Districts Map was approved by the City Council in February after establishing an advisory committee and holding several community meetings. 

E...

Watsonville City Council Appoints New City Clerk

The Watsonville City Council has appointed Assistant City Clerk Irwin Ivan Ortiz as the new City Clerk!

Irwin was born and raised in Watsonville and has been a resident of our community his entire life. He attended local public schools, including Cabrillo ...

COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Watsonville closing this Sunday

The Old City Hall Vaccine Clinic will close its doors this Sunday, March 27. This site administered more than 23,000 COVID-19 vaccines to our community members since vaccines first became available to the general public in February of 2021.

There are numer...

City of Watsonville providing FREE at-home covid tests

The Watsonville Public Library and the Watsonville Senior Center are offering FREE at-home COVID tests for anyone in our community.

You can stop by any of the three locations during their regular business hours and pick them up (while supplies last).

For mo...

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter in Watsonville reopens its doors to the public

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter in Watsonville has reopened its doors to the public.

Their Watsonville location at 580 Airport Blvd. operates Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m.). 

For additional informati...

Students put their engineering skills to the test during annual egg drop competition

More than 20 students from our Environmental Science Workshop put their engineering skills to the test during the 19th annual Egg Drop competition this week. 

The event, hosted by the Public Works and Utilities Department and Public Library, is he...

Judge approves sale of Watsonville Community Hospital to Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project

A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of Watsonville Community Hospital to the newly-formed Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHDP). 

The group has until August 31, 2022, to close on the sale. 

“We envisioned a future in which...

Retired pilot, 93, relives old memories at Watsonville Municipal Airport, flies WWII biplane

He spent the majority of his life flying planes, but never imagined that he’d be back in the pilot’s seat as a 93-year-old retiree. 

Clarke Masters got a chance to relive old memories as he flew a 1942 Boeing Stearman biplane out of the Watsonvill...

New self-cleaning restrooms arrive at City Plaza

The new self-cleaning restrooms arrived at the City Plaza on Tuesday morning. 

Construction crews had spent several weeks preparing the foundation and gearing up for the big delivery. They’ll spend the next few weeks adding the...

Santa Cruz County Health Officer to lift county mask mandate

The Santa Cruz County Health Officer will be lifting the county’s mask mandate for most indoor public settings starting Wednesday, February 16. 

The change aligns with the California Department of Public Health’s decision to let the statewide indo...

Council unanimously approves $130,000 contribution to help purchase Watsonville Community Hospital

Watsonville City Council members unanimously approved contributing $130,000 of the General Fund to help the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHDP) purchase the Watsonville Community Hospital. 

The hospital recently filed for bankruptcy ...

COVID-19 testing site at Ramsay Park moves to Westridge Dr.

The OptumServe COVID-19 testing site at Ramsay Park will be moving to a County facility in Watsonville on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. 

The 500 Westridge Drive facility is just over a mile from Ramsay Park and will continue to provide free testing...

Watsonville Senior Center helping residents order free COVID-19 test kits

Staff from the Watsonville Senior Center are helping residents with limited or no internet access place an order for their free COVID-19 testing kits from the government. 

If you need assistance placing your order, please call 831-768-3279.&nb...

Jorge Zamora sworn-in as Chief of Police of Watsonville

Longtime Watsonville police veteran Jorge Zamora was sworn in as Chief of Police on January 10, 2022.  

Zamora officially became the 16th police chief for the City of Watsonville and the first, first-generation Mexican-American to hold this role.

C...

City Manager Recruitment Now Open

The City Council seeks a new City Manager.

To view the full City Manager Brochure click on the image or click Here. 

Acting Assistant Chief of Police Jorge Zamora selected to serve as Watsonville’s new Police Chief

Longtime Watsonville officer and Acting Assistant Chief of Police Jorge Zamora has been selected to serve as Watsonville’s new Chief of Police. 

The confirmation of Zamora comes after an extensive and highly visible recruitment process, ...

Watsonville awarded top honors for financial reporting

We are proud to announce that our final budget report for the 2021-2023 fiscal years has received the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. 

Following a thorough examination by a panel of independent reviewers, the Government Fina...

Rebates & incentives available for Watsonville residents who purchase or lease electric vehicles

Thanks to regional, state, and federal rebates and incentives, there’s never been a better time to purchase or lease a new or used electric vehicle!

Residential, commercial, public agencies, and agricultural Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) ...

Our Town is Taking Bold Steps & Committing to Climate Action

On October 26, the City Council unanimously approved the 2030 Climate Action & Adaptation Plan....

Our Town is Taking Bold Steps and Committing to Climate Action

On October 26, the City Council unanimously approved the 2030 Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. Thank you to all who came out to show their support!  With this, we have co...

Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report

Report Available Now

Click here to see the Report - Haga clic aquí para ver el informe

https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/17222/2020-CAPER-final-draft-for-public-commenting

Read on...

Animation Creation Club for Kids

Know a kid that is curious about animation?

Know someone that is curious about animation? Learn how to make and share creative short videos using paper, lego bricks, clay and toys! Our Animation Creation Club will be meeting every second Tuesday of the month starting on January 11 from 3:30-4:30pm ...

Library Closed for Memorial Day

Watsonville Public Libraries will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 30th.

Watsonville Public Libraries will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 30th. All library materials can be returned in the book drops located outside of the library during the closure.

Las Bibliotecas Públicas de Watsonville estarán cerrad...

Spring Into Reading Challenge

What better way to celebrate spring than with our Spring Into Reading challenge?

What better way to celebrate spring than with our Spring Into Reading challenge?

Keep track of your reading on our Beanstack site at https://wplreads.beanstack.org or with the Beanstack Tracker app available to download from your device's app stor...

Annual Poetry Contest

Our 2022 Poetry Contest is now open for submissions!

Calling all local Watsonville poets ~ Our 2022 Poetry Contest is now open for submissions! We encourage patrons of all age groups to participate in our poetry contest and share their original work.

Submissions will be accepted online and in-person, and wil...