Awards Received By the City of Santa Clara

November

• Santa Clara Named 6th Safest City in America by SmartAsset

On November 14th, Santa Clara was named the 6th Safest City in America by SmartAsset. SmartAsset looked at a number of public safety metrics to determine what areas are the safest, and Santa Clara rose to the top. SmartAsset also ranked the affordability and livability of mid-sized cities in the U.S. and Santa Clara was ranked 13^th for 2019.

October

• One for the Books: Santa Clara Library Wins PR Excellence Award 

The Santa Clara City Library drove away with statewide honors in late October when the California Library Association bestowed its PR Excellence Award for the Library’s promotion of its revitalized bookmobile program. The Association especially appreciated the bookmobile’s eye-catching design and the popular Bookmobile Karaoke. 

The bookmobile was recognized for:

• Innovating service to the community
• Expanding beyond the typical bookmobile models
• Showcasing the diversity of our services and our community

In the $10 million-plus budget wildcard category, Santa Clara City Library bested much larger library systems with 20, 50 or even 70 libraries with full marketing departments. “Brilliant!” the judges gushed. “Love all the ways and ideas to make this revitalized bookmobile something new, clever, fresh and fun.“

• Silicon Valley Power Receives Smart Energy Provider Designation

Silicon Valley Power, the city-owned electric utility, was also honored in late October with a Smart Energy Provider designation from the American Public Power Association. This designation is awarded to public power utilities that demonstrate expertise in and a commitment to energy efficiency, distributed generation and environmental initiatives.

September

• Silicon Valley Power Wins Four Excellence in Communication Awards

On September 17, Silicon Valley Power was honored with four Excellence in Communication awards from the Northwest Public Power Association at its annual Northwest Communications & Energy Innovations Conference. The utility received second place for its quarterly “Outlet” newsletter, which is mailed to all business customers in Santa Clara, second place for its “Delivering Possibilities” digital campaign, and second place for its “Get to Know Silicon Valley Power” social media campaign. Silicon Valley Power also received a People’s Choice Award for best photo of an employee, for its photo of four lineworkers at the end of their mutual aid assignment last year assisting Redding Electric Utility rebuild a transmission line that was destroyed in the Carr Fire.

• Public Works Wins Green Business Program Award

On Sept. 10, the Department of Public Works staff received a commendation from the County of Santa Clara in recognition of their efforts in attaining Green Business Certification at the corporation yard. The Green Business Program is part of a statewide Green Business network that recognizes organizations that have incorporated environmentally sound practices into their business operations.

August

• City Receives Emergency Communications Award

On Aug. 11, the City of Santa Clara received the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Technology Leadership Award at APCO International's Annual Conference & Expo in Baltimore, Maryland. The award recognizes 9-1-1 Communications Centers that use technological advancements to provide demonstrated benefits to their center, employees and customers.

June

• City Honored for Excellence in Financial Reporting

In June, the City of Santa Clara was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and represents a significant accomplishment by the City of Santa Clara.

May

• Retired Chief Electric Utility Officer Bestowed with Life Member Award

On May 22, John Roukema, who retired as the Chief Electric Utility Officer after 38 years with Silicon Valley Power, was honored with a Life Member Award from the Northwest Public Power Association. This recognition is awarded to retiring policymakers and managers who have made notable contributions to public power, their utilities and their communities.

• Optimist Club Recognizes Public Safety

At the Optimist Club Respect for Law and Fire Awards Ceremony event held on May 20, eight individuals were honored in Santa Clara Council Chambers: Police Officer of the Year - Brian Lee; Reserve Police Officer of the Year - Jeff Orlando; Volunteer of the Year, Police - William Dempsey; Police Detectives of the Year - Kenia Pilger and John Terry; Lifetime Achievement Award, Fire - Chief William Kelly; Volunteer Reserve Firefighter of the Year - Bryan Landaverde; and Distinguished Service Award, Fire - Tamra Francis.

• Santa Clara University Baseball Recognizes Santa Clara Police

On May 16, the Santa Clara University Men’s Baseball Team recognized the Santa Clara Police Department in honor of National Police Week. National Police Week recognizes the sacrifice made by officers who have been killed in the line of duty nationwide. Officer Brian Lee was given the honor of throwing out the first pitch at Stephen Schott Stadium.

• Public Works Corporation Yard Office Certified as Green Business 

In May, through the Santa Clara County Green Business Program, the City’s Department of Public Works was recognized as a Green Business at the Corporation Yard office for incorporating environmentally sound practices into its business operations. To be certified, participants must comply with environmental regulations and meet program standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution and minimizing waste.

• American Public Works Association Recognizes City of Santa Clara Projects

Also in May, the City received three Public Works Project of the Year Awards from the American Public Works Association (APWA). Projects that received awards included: the San Tomas Expressway & Monroe Street Park and Community Garden Project, the Mission Branch Library Remodel Project, and the Santa Clara High and Adrian Wilcox High Crosswalk Improvements Project.

• Agrihood Project Awarded for Innovation in Green Community Planning

Again in May, the City of Santa Clara's Agrihood project was selected to receive an American Planning Association Northern California Chapter award for “Innovation in Green Community Planning”. The award honors efforts to create greener communities that reduce the impact of development on the natural environment and improve environmental quality. The Agrihood project is a partnership among the City of Santa Clara, the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing, and The Core Companies to construct 165 affordable senior apartments, 160 mixed-income apartments, 36 townhomes, 10,000 square feet of commercial space and approximately 1.5 acres of open space at 90 North Winchester. The open space areas are being programmed to support placemaking activity as well as community agriculture. The project will provide much needed affordable housing for the community.

• Silicon Valley Power Receives Commendation

Also in May, Silicon Valley Power received recognition for its mutual aid efforts in the northern California Carr Fire last year by the American Public Power Association. The City’s electric utility sent 10 crew members and several vehicles to assist Redding Electric Utility in its infrastructure rebuilding efforts.

April

• Officer Savage Wins Community Safety Award

On April 25, the San Jose Pioneer Lions Club recognized Officer Scott Savage of the Santa Clara Police Department at their 17th Annual Community Safety Award Ceremony. Officer Savage was recognized for his outstanding and productive police work, and his ability to help train members of the department on how to respond to tactical situations.

• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year Award - Adam Wilson

On April 8, the Santa Clara County Mental Health Board recognized police officers throughout the county at the 8th Annual Community Heroes Award Ceremony with the CIT Officers of the Year Award. Santa Clara Police Officer Adam Wilson was one of those honored with this award.

• Silicon Valley Power Awarded Reliable Public Power Provider (RP₃) Gold Designation

On April 1, Silicon Valley Power was awarded the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP₃) Gold designation by the American Public Power Association. The designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

• Silicon Valley Power Recognized with Safety Award

Also in April, the Northwest Public Power Association recognized Silicon Valley Power at its annual conference. 2019 is the second year the utility has received this award for outstanding achievement in workplace safety. Silicon Valley Power was awarded second place in its respective group against peer groups of comparable size based on work hours. This is an improvement from the utility’s third place award in 2018.

March

• Officer Wicht Wins ASIS Award

On March 14, Officer Zachary Wicht of the Santa Clara Police Department received an award from the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) for his outstanding productivity as a police officer. Officer Wicht led the department in the number of arrests in 2018 and was able to remove illegal narcotics and handguns from the streets.

January

• Police Department #1 Fundraiser for Special Olympics

On January 23, the Santa Clara Police Department received the #1 Fundraising Agency Award for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Northern California. Officers and personnel from the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) fundraised over $69,655 in 2018 for the intellectually disabled athletes of Special Olympics.

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