1. Economic Growth and Trends

Sources: County and City of Santa Clara, U.S. Census, State Department of Finance, Santa Clara Unified School District, State Board of Equalization and MuniServices LLC.

* Figures are for fiscal year 08-09

2. Climate

Source: Western Regional Climate Center

Rail: CalTrain commuter service to Gilroy and San Francisco with one station in Santa Clara. Inter-urban rail service between San Jose and Sacramento with two stations in Santa Clara, the Great America Station and the Santa Clara Station. Amtrak national passenger rail service and Union Pacific freight rail service are also available. The Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) from Stockton serves the City of Santa Clara at the Great America and Santa Clara stations.
Truck: 62 Interstate truck carriers and 400 radial contract carriers.
Air: Mineta San Jose International Airport (2 miles from Santa Clara’s Civic Center).
Bus: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
Water: None.
Highways: U.S. 101, Interstate 280 and 880, State 82 and 237. Expressways: San Tomas, Montague, Lawrence, and Central.
Light Rail: Running from Downtown Mountain View to the Santa Clara Convention Center to neighboring San Jose Convention Center, and stretching to South San Jose/Santa Teresa Station.
Bike Facilities: 22.3 miles of bike lanes, 7.1 miles of bike routes, 8.9 miles of recreational paths.

4. Industrial Sites

There are 2,291 acres in the city limits planned for light and heavy industry. New industrial permit valuation in 2008 was $40.8 million. Vacant industrial parcels range in size from 20,000 square feet to 15 acres, many of which are in industrial parks. The terrain is flat, gradually sloping downward to the north. Drainage is excellent, subsoil is clay. Sizes of water mains range from 4 to 27 inches. Sizes of sewer lines range from 6 to 42 inches. Site data was compiled in cooperation with the Planning Division.

5. Water Supply

Name of supplier: City of Santa Clara.
Maximum supply capacity: 88 million gal./day (MGD) potable water; 18 MGD recycled water.
Average consumption: 20.9 MGD potable water; 2.5 MGD recycled water.

For rates applicable to City of Santa Clara, contact the Water Utility office at 1500 Warburton Avenue.

For information on development and connection fees, contact the Director of Public Works/City Engineer's office at 1500 Warburton Avenue, (408) 615-3000.

6. Solar Utility Services

Name of supplier: City of Santa Clara.
Users: Residents and businesses within the city.
Services provided: Design, installation and maintenance of solar water heating systems that are leased from the City for heating of swimming pools, residential hot water and industrial process water.

For information on installation and fees, contact the Water Utility at 1500 Warburton Avenue, (408) 615-2000.

7. Sewer Service

Name of supplier: City of Santa Clara.
Capacity of sewage treatment plant: 167 MGD.
Peak flow of regional sewage treatment plant: 109 MGD (dry weather).
Sewer service charge: Yes. On what basis: Volume and strength of sewage.
Facilities for non-recoverable industrial wastewater: Yes.

For sewer service charge rates applicable to the City of Santa Clara, contact the Sewer Utility at 1500 Warburton Ave., (408) 615-2000.

For sewer connection charges and acreage fees, contact the Director of Public Works/City Engineer's office at 1500 Warburton Avenue, (408) 615-3000.

8. Storm Drains and Flood Control

Storm drain collection system including lift stations maintained and administered by Department of Streets and Automotive Services, and Water & Sewer Utility. Flood control channels, creeks, and river maintained and administered by Santa Clara Valley Water District.

For information on development and connection fees, contact the Director of Public Works/City Engineer’s Office at 1500 Warburton Avenue, (408) 615-3000.

Dedication requirements: Developer dedicates all easements and right of way necessary to serve the property.
Improvements required: Varies with type of land use. In general, developer pays for street improvements including engineering and inspection fees.
Traffic mitigation: In the industrial part of the City, new development and redevelopment pay a traffic impact fee; existing development is assessed for traffic mitigation through an assessment district. The City has initiated a program for installing sidewalks on streets in the industrial area.

For information, contact the Director of Public Works or City Engineer's office at 1500 Warburton Ave., (408) 615-3000.

10. Natural Gas

Name of supplier: Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
For rates applicable to the City of Santa Clara, contact the Supplier's Office at 111 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, (800) 743-5000.

11. Electric Power

Name of supplier: City of Santa Clara Municipal Electric Utility (dba Silicon Valley Power). Capacity of the City's receiving stations: 1,000 MVA.
Maximum demand: 460 Megawatts.
Interconnection voltage: 115 kV and 230 kV.
Sub-transmission voltage: 60 kV.
Distribution feeder voltage: 12 kV.
Customer delivery voltages: Various.
Power Reliability: Average System Availability Index: 99.99% (Top 3% nationally).
Business Rates: 20-35% below other Silicon Valley locations served by PG&E.

For published rates, rate comparisons, efficiency incentives, 100% Green Power, or other Santa Clara electric utility information, go to SiliconValleyPower.com or call the Silicon Valley Power office at (408) 261-5292.

For information on development and connection fees, contact the Permit Center at (408) 615-2420.

12. Telephone

Name of analog phone services supplier: AT&T. 

13. Governmental Facilities - Tax and Insurance Rates

A) Assessed valuation in 2008-09: City: Real Cash Value $24,479,723,000 County: Real Cash Value $300,703,413,000.
B) Local property tax in FY 09-10 received by the City per $100 collected: $10.20
C) Retail sales tax: State 6%, County 0.5%, City 1%, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)1%, County-wide Transportation and Roads 0.25%, Public Safety (Prop 172) 0.5%. TOTAL 9.25%.
D) Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) 9.5%
E) Police Department: Police Department: Comprised of 147 sworn officers, 49 civilians, 23 reserves, 41 crossing guards, and 27 employees providing 9-1-1 service for police, fire and Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), public safety, and administrative communications support. The Police Administration Building is located at 601 El Camino Real.
F) Fire Department: Comprised of 180 employees and 50 volunteer/reserves in ten stations located throughout the City.
G) Fire Insurance Classification: City rating - Class 2. Adjacent unincorporated areas: Class 3-9.

Estimated Jobs Employment

Source: CA Employment Development Department Labor Market Information Division

15. Manufacturing Employment

There are more than 500 manufacturing plants in Santa Clara. Leading group classes of products are electronic equipment, communication equipment and fiberglass. Manufacturing firms with more than 250 employees in the community are:

Source: infoUSA®, California Employment Development Department

16. Non-Manufacturing Employment

The majority of more than 8000 businesses in Santa Clara are non-manufacturing. Leading group classes of services are electronic equipment, communications, software and education. Non-manufacturing firms with more than 250 employees in the community are:

Source: infoUSA®, California Employment Development Department

17. Community Facilities

Health: Santa Clara has one general hospital with 327 total bed capacity and 270 affiliated physicians/surgeons. The City also has numerous dentists, optometrist and other medical specialists. Santa Clara has a fire department paramedic program and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program.
Education: 14 elementary schools, 2 junior high schools, 2 high schools, 4 parochial schools, 1 university, 1 community college, and 1 adult education center.
Cultural: 32 churches; 2 libraries; 2 newspapers; 1 cable TV system; 39 banks; 1 radio station; 1 movie multiplex with 20 screens; 2 performing arts theaters; and 33 parks and playgrounds (covering 247 acres) including city-owned, non-sectarian Mission City Memorial Park, one of the oldest cemeteries in the state. Other recreational facilities include: Olympic-size George F. Haines International Swim Center and three community swimming pools; a 27,000 square-foot Community Recreation Center; 45,000 square-foot Senior Center; 7,000 square-foot Teen Center; Youth Activity Center; Santa Clara Youth Soccer Park, 27 public tennis courts; 7 softball fields; one lawn bowling green; and one 9-hole privately owned golf course; art galleries and museums, concerts and plays at community colleges and universities; annual Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival; July 4th All-City Picnic & Fireworks Spectacular; and International Swim Meet. The 262,000 square-foot Santa Clara Convention Center hosts major conventions, trade shows and corporate functions. Santa Clara is home to California’s Great America, one of the largest family entertainment centers in Northern California, and is also home of the 49ers NFL Pro Football Headquarters and Training Center.

18. Housing Availability, Prices and Rentals
Average range for monthly rents of one- and two-bedroom apartments within the County are from $1,300 to $2,002 per month. Rents for three-bedroom houses in the City start at $1,800 per month. Within the City and its immediate vicinity, the median single family home price is $569,000. The median price of condominium units is $370,000. The City has an active affordable housing agenda with both a First Time Homebuyers Program and a Below Market Rate Purchase (BMP) Program which are subsidized with Redevelopment Agency Affordable Housing Funds.

Source: NAI BT Commercial, 2010; Santa Clara County Real Estate Trends, February 2010; and craigslist.com, February 2010.

Besides having outstanding industrial parks (most within a few miles of the Civic Center and adjacent to freeways), Santa Clara is in the forefront of the national movement to protect the environment from industrial and other types of pollution. Electronic, aerospace, research and many types of light manufacturing firms will find Santa Clara ideal for employees and their families.