Milpitas mayor outlines budget, housing and sustainability priorities in 2026 State of the City

Milpitas Mayor delivered the 2026 State of the City address, saying the city has "strengthened our finances" and framing the year ahead under the theme "resilient through change, rising through opportunity." The mayor cited adoption of a balanced budget and said the measure reduced the city's projected five-year deficit by 43% while preserving services and avoiding staffing cuts.

The address outlined near-term investments and program results across housing, infrastructure and sustainability. On housing, the mayor highlighted a relaunched accessory dwelling unit (ADU) incentive program that covers permit fees for eligible ADUs and noted housing assistance and rent-relief programs that supported 255 households. The city also completed phase two of a comprehensive zoning ordinance update and launched an impact-fee study intended to ensure new development contributes to infrastructure and amenities.

Infrastructure projects announced included a $1.3 million playground improvement at Senate Park, the city's first solar street-light installation along Hammond Way, and what the mayor characterized as nearly $5 million in federal grant funding to improve safety at key intersections and school zones, with construction expected next summer. The city reported replacement of a 12-inch water main on Dempsey Road, completion of a $1 million bicycle-lane enhancement project, and an upcoming annual street-rehabilitation program budgeted at roughly $3.44 million for the greater Yellowstone neighborhood.

On climate and clean-energy priorities, the mayor described partnerships with Silicon Valley Clean Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the Go Electric Milpitas program, support homeowner electrification rebates, transition the municipal fleet to all-electric vehicles and expand electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. The speech said the city secured nearly $4 million in external funding to expand resident incentives and sustainability initiatives.

Economic development and business support featured prominently. The mayor said Milpitas supports more than 48,000 jobs and listed several employers investing in the city, and announced Rivian's selection of Milpitas for a last-mile hub. The address also noted a Microenterprise Assistance Program that has awarded 105 community development block-grant-funded awards totaling about $585,000 since 2024 to help income-eligible small businesses.

The mayor promoted new visitor outreach tools including a destination website and a Visit Milpitas brochure aimed at driving tourism and supporting local businesses, and described a regional light-rail advertising campaign placing Milpitas messaging in 10 BART stations.

Willie Hopkins, introduced by the mayor as the new city manager, spoke after the address to thank attendees and to underscore the administration's emphasis on continued outreach, collaboration and implementation of council priorities. The event concluded with an invitation to a reception and an adjournment.

The address combined policy highlights and promotional outreach; details the administration presented (budget adoption, grant amounts, program participant counts and project budgets) were stated by speakers without accompanying vote tallies or ordinance numbers. Where exact figures were given in the address, the article reports them as spoken (for example, the mayor's 43% five-year deficit reduction claim, 15,692 building-permit customers served, 98% customer satisfaction for Building Safety, 255 households assisted and the $585,000 in microenterprise awards).