Finally on April 27th we celebrated a day that so many of us have been waiting for – the Gonzales kicked off 2026 with a bang! We opened the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex on January 10th and had hundreds of Gonzales supporters come out and joined us in the festivities. It was a true community event filled with warm hearts and joyful faces. A dream come true for many who for years envisioned a place like this in their hometown of Gonzales! We would like to thank everyone that made it possible – all the donors, the foundations, the USDA, the grantors, Senator Caballero and all those who contributed to the project in one way or another. Thank You to the Gonzales Youth Council for having the vision and to the Gonzales City Council for continuing to prioritize youth leadership and development, and their continued intentional efforts to support the young people of Gonzales. Thank you!!!!
The Center is now open and being run with the support of multiple partners. The Boys and Girls Club is programming the Center Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and the City Recreation Team, Olinga Learning and others, are working to provide programming on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturday mornings.
Electronic Billboard
Next up, we have the unveiling of our new electonic
billboard. It has been constructed and thanks to PG&E
has been powered up and is ready to go. It should be
up and running mid-February. It’s quite a sight to see if you haven’t spotted it yet off the 101 heading south of the Winery.
City of Gonzales
City Manager Report
January 2026
5th Street Truck Ban
The Gonzales City Council adopted Ordiance No. 2019-113 preventing the passage of long-haul trucks down 5th Street towards the Industrial Agricultural Park. This effort was enacted to protect the deteriorating infrastrucutre and ensure the safety of pedestrians passing through that area. Signs will be posted along Highway 101 letting truckers know to take the Alta Street and La Gloria Road exits instead. Please spread the word so that truckers know the best route to use.
Gonzales Fire Department Parcel Tax
The City Council will be considering a Parcel Tax Measure that would go out to the electors on the June 2, 2026 election to support the Fire Department’s staffing and it’s operations at their meeting of Feburary 17th. With costs continuing to rise, the City needs to look at other ways to sustain this essential service. Without this funding, the Department’s operations would be negatively impacted and response times would be delayed, putting us all at risk. Funding generated through the measure would strictly go to the Fire Department and there would be local oversight to ensure that is the case. For more information, visit the City’s website at gonzalesca.gov.
The Gonzales Fire Department will also be hosting an open house in late February to answer questions from the public about their needs and why this is important. Be on the lookout for the date.
Save the Date: