Let's Be Good Neighbors!

It all starts with knowledge and respect.

Offensive Noise

Any type of offensive noise, usually music, within city limits between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am that is audible at a distance of 50 ft from the structure is in violation of this municipal code (Municipal Code: 5-8-01 Offensive n...

Kick Butts with the Watsonville Cleanup Leaders

If you have noticed cigarette butts littered around your neighborhood and public spaces, you are not alone! In last month’s article we shared that local Clean Up Leaders collected 5 buckets full of trash in Downtown Watsonville during their neighborhood c...

New Bulky Item Collection Services Now Available

Residents who receive their garbage service from the City are eligible.

Our Solid Waste team now offers a Bulky Collection Program to make it convenient for you to dispose of large items such as home appliances, furniture, and electronics. Residents who receive their garbage service from the City of Watsonville are e...

Post-Construction Stormwater Training

How to Incorporate Low Impact Development (LID)
into New and Redevelopment Projects

Monterey Bay communities have been implementing the Central Coast Post-Construction Stormwater Requirements (PCRs) since March 2014. These Civil engineering design requirements affect new and redevelopment site planning and how stormwater is managed on-si...

Employer COVID-19 Toolkit

Employer Toolkit to Make COVID-19 Vaccinations More Convenient for Workers

The Employer Vaccination Toolkit provides employers with vaccine education materials, information on COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave and other guidance for employees,...

How to Start a Food Business

This webinar series will cover how to:

• Develop and formalize your business idea
• Obtain permits and licenses
• Packaged products to sell at wholesale
• Sell direct to consumer

Esta serie de seminarios web cubrirá cómo:

• Desarrolla y formaliza tu idea de negocio
• Obteng...

Empresari@ Program

Empresari@ Program

This is a 13-session program for anyone looking to start or formalize their business. Classes start on September 15th and end November 17th. The cost is $50 for Tricounty residents. Program presented in Spanish.

• Marketing & managing a...

Covid-19 Emergency and Recovery & Growth Loans Available

Covid-19 Emergency and Recovery & Growth Loans Available

The Santa Cruz County Economic Development Fund has COVID-19 emergency Loans of up to $50,000 and Recovery & Growth Loans of up to $500,000 for eligible businesses located in Santa Cruz Count...

A State and Local Call in Response to the California Drought

Due to the fact that our local groundwater wells can only be refilled by rainfall and that Watsonville depends on local groundwater wells for about 90% of our water, please follow the guidelines below to help us conserve this precious resource. 

R...

Music in the Plaza

Our summer outdoor concerts are back!

Our summer outdoor concerts are back!  Join us this summer as we welcome back Music in the Plaza to downtown Watsonville.  The concert series will feature a variety of bands to help you get your groove on.   Grab a bite at our d...

Welcome Back Watsonville!

We have a number of fun events planned this summer!

These events may not look exactly like their pre-pandemic versions, but they are sure to be a great re-introduction to social life. We hope that these events help our community heal from the loss and challenges caused by the pandemic and provide a venue t...

~ Sign Up for the Library Newsletter ~

Want to keep up with what's going on at the library? We are excited to announce that you can now sign up to receive the library newsletter by email.

Want to keep up with what’s going on at the library? We are excited to announce that you can now sign up to receive the library newsletter by email ~ you can see the current one on our webpage  and follow the link on that page to sign up. &nb...

1000 Books Before Kindergarten Beanstack Challenge

Help your child develop early reading skills with our 1000 Books before Kindergarten reading challenge in Beanstack.

Is your child ready for Kindergarten? Help your child develop early reading skills with our 1000 Books before Kindergarten reading challenge in Beanstack. This program encourages parents to read 1,000 books with their children before age...

Summer Reading ~ Turn in Logs by 8/11/21

Did you read 10 hours this summer? Pick up your completion prize by August 11th.

Did you complete your ten hours of reading as part of our Summer Reading Program? Stop by the Main Library or Freedom Branch by Wednesday, August 11th to claim your completion prize.

¿Completó sus diez horas de lectura como parte de n...

Intro to Photo Editing with Adobe Photoshop

Want to learn how to use Adobe Photoshop to edit photos?

Learn how to edit your photos. Adobe Photoshop offers a lot of tools to edit, enhance, or correct photos that mobile apps might not have the ability to do. Learning how to use this software can guide you into the path of graphic design or remove someone t...

Intro to Video Editing with Green Screen Workshop

Have you ever wondered how to change the background of your videos by recording in front of a green screen?

Have you ever wondered how Chroma keys work? Chroma-what? Learn how to change the background of your videos by recording in front of a green screen. 

Watch the tutorial, then join us for some hands-on practice. Bring your own video footage or we w...

Watsonville Poet Laureate Committee

Interested in selecting the first poet laureate in the community of Watsonville?

Have an appreciation for the art of poetry? Interested in serving on the Watsonville Poet Laureate Committee and selecting the first poet laureate in the community of Watsonville? Applications are being accepted online at: https://bit.ly/345sIqL through T...

Pop-Up Lunch with the Library

Watsonville Public Library is partnering with Community Bridges, and will be visiting Summer Lunch sites with the library BiblioVan!

Calling all local youth ~ interested in getting a free lunch and a free book? Watsonville Public Library is partnering with Community Bridges, and will be visiting Summer Lunch sites with the library BiblioVan! Stop by to learn about library services, sig...

Baile Folklorico Summer Virtual Workshops

Learn Baile Folkorico in this free family-friendly video series that will focus on dances of the Yucatán and Nayarit.

Learn Baile Folklorico with Graciela Vega. This family-friendly series will focus on the traditional dances of the Yucatán and Nayarit regions of Mexico. Graciela weaves historical and cultural points of interest in with her dance instruction, connecting ...

Watsonville Poet Laureate

Watsonville Public Library is accepting nominations for the new Watsonville Poet Laureate Program.

Watsonville Public Library is accepting nominations for the new Watsonville Poet Laureate Program. The program’s primary goal is to make poetry more accessible across Watsonville, while promoting an understanding of the transformative power of this art fo...

Color Your World: Melted Crayon Jewelry Craft Kit

Color your world with our melted crayon jewelry family craft kit.

It’s purple week! Color your world with our jewelry family craft kit. Kits will be available for pick up at our Main Library and Freedom Branch.

Kits will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last.

¡Es la semana...

Color Your World: Galaxy in a Jar Craft Kit

Color your world with our galaxy in a jar family craft kit.

It’s indigo week! Color your world with our galaxy in a jar family craft kit. Kits will be available for pick up at our Main Library and Freedom Branch.

Kits will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. 

¡Es la semana d...

Community Quilt Project

We invite you to contribute to our community quilt project.

Do you enjoy crafting and sewing? We invite you to collaborate with us in making quilt squares for our Community Quilt Project.

Don’t know how to sew but interested in participating? We will be releasing sewing tutorials that will guide you throu...

Bilingual Storytime on Break untll the Fall

Bilingual Storytime on Break till the Fall

Attention storytime attendees ~ Our Bilingual Storytime that occurs on Thursday mornings will be going on a break until the Fall of 2021. 

Still interested in attending virtual storytimes? We will continue to offer Bilingual Baby Laptime on Wednes...

~ Sign Up for the Library Newsletter ~

Want to keep up with what's going on at the library? We are excited to announce that you can now sign up to receive the library newsletter by email.

Want to keep up with what’s going on at the library? We are excited to announce that you can now sign up to receive the library newsletter by email ~ you can see the current one on our webpage  and follow the link on that page to sign up. &nb...

1000 Books Before Kindergarten Beanstack Challenge

Help your child develop early reading skills with our 1000 Books before Kindergarten reading challenge in Beanstack.

Is your child ready for Kindergarten? Help your child develop early reading skills with our 1000 Books before Kindergarten reading challenge in Beanstack. This program encourages parents to read 1,000 books with their children before age...

Live Virtual Storytimes

The library has virtual storytimes on Wednesday mornings live via Zoom.

Bilingual Baby Laptime

Bienvenidos/Welcome ~ Baby Laptime is now live ?? Help your child (newborn - 2yrs) build early literacy skills as we have fun with songs and stories.   

Bienvenidos/Welcome~ Cuentos Bilingües para Beb&ea...

26th Annual Strawberry Festival

FLYERS Afterschool Program

Parents looking for a safe, educational and fun experience outside of the classroom should look no further than our FLYERS (Fun Loving Youth En Route to Success) program. Students receive homework help, arts, crafts, games, sports and a delicious snack. W...

Music in the Plaza

Our summer outdoor concerts are back! Join us this summer as we welcome back Music in the Plaza to downtown Watsonville.

Our summer outdoor concerts are back!  Join us this summer as we welcome back Music in the Plaza to downtown Watsonville.  The concert series will feature a variety of bands to help you get your groove on.   Grab a bite at our d...

Welcome Back Watsonville!

The past year and a half have been no cake walk, but with the world opening up and life returning to a new normal, the City of Watsonville has a number of fun and engaging events planned this summer to welcome us all back to life outside our homes.

These events may not look exactly like their pre-pandemic versions, but they are sure to be a great re-introduction to social life. We hope that these events help our community heal from the loss and challenges caused by the pandemic and provide a venue t...

WPD upcoming community events 2021

Take a look at some of the upcoming community events the Watsonville Police Department is organizing!

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Our Traffic Unit will be handing out helmets for kids at Ramsay Park star...

Coffee with a Cop is back!

We’re bringing back Coffee with a Cop!

Join us Tuesday, August 3 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at the Starbucks on Freedom Boulevard.

This is a great opportunity to stir up casual conversations with the men and women who serve this community and discuss som...

National Night Out 2021

Let the countdown begin!

This year’s 38th annual National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, October 5.

National Night Out strengthens the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community...

2021 Fourth of July Holiday Weekend Recap

We had another busy Fourth of July weekend this year with officers responding to hundreds of fireworks-related calls and several major incidents.

From July 3-4th, we had 264 calls for service that strictly involved fireworks. Officers issued citations for ...

WPD joins hundreds of first responders for active shooter training

Watsonville Police officers joined hundreds of first responders from across the Central Coast to train on how to properly respond to critical incidents such as an active shooter with mass casualties. 

This was one of the first opportunities where ...

WPD officer honored with Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award

Watsonville Police Officer Evan Umstead was recently recognized for his commitment to keeping our community safe from drunk drivers. 

This past year, Ofc. Umstead took 24 intoxicated drivers off our roadways.

His efforts to prevent another life fro...

WPD Cadet accepted to master’s degree program

Congratulations are in order for Watsonville Police Cadet Captain Katelyn Meyer who was recently accepted to San Jose State University’s Research and Experimental Psychology Master’s Program!

She began her journey as a cadet i...

WPD CARE Team working to help individuals & families affected by mental illness

We’re living in stressful times and it’s absolutely normal for many of us to feel anxious, sad, or even overwhelmed. 

The good news is there is help. Our Crisis Assessment Response and Engagement (CARE) Team continues to provid...

Watsonville Police Chief David Honda to retire

Dear Community of Watsonville, 

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement after more than 30 years in public service. It has been a privilege and honor to serve you, the City of Watsonville, with some of the finest men and women in l...

Watsonville Police Department releases annual report

The intent of this report is to provide you with some insight into the organization of your department, highlight the major events of the previous year, and introduce new or innovative programs.  

As you read this report, we hope that reviewing th...

Watsonville Police welcome three new officers

Say hello to the latest officers to join the Watsonville Police Department!

The trio—Chance Denecke, Angel Hernandez, and Marcos Rios—was sworn in by Chief Honda Thursday afternoon.

Officer Trainees Denecke, Hernandez, and Rios will start our 6-month Field ...

Monarch Services and WPD ongoing partnership

Thank you, Monarch Services for providing our officers a refresher course on the resources your agency offers to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Our department works hand-in-hand with Monarch Services to ensure servic...

WPD campaign raises more than $13,600 for families affected by breast cancer

More than $13,600 was raised during the Watsonville Police Department’s 2020 Pink Patch Project campaign.

Every year in October, the campaign aims to bring attention to the fight against breast cancer and support research organizations in combati...

WPD awarded more than $107,000 in grants to increase road, bicycle and pedestrian safety

The Watsonville Police Department has been awarded two grants totaling $107,500 to increase road, bicycle, and pedestrian safety. 

A $65,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety will assist us in our efforts to reduce deaths and inju...

Watsonville Police Department releases annual report

The intent of this report is to provide you with some insight into the organization of your department.

The intent of this report is to provide you with some insight into the organization of your department, highlight the major events of the previous year, and introduce new or innovative programs.  

As you read this report, we hope that reviewing th...

Post-Construction Stormwater Training

How to Incorporate Low Impact Development (LID)
into New and Redevelopment Projects

Monterey Bay communities have been implementing the Central Coast Post-Construction Stormwater Requirements (PCRs) since March 2014. These Civil engineering design requirements affect new and redevelopment site planning and how stormwater is managed on-si...