Alvarez says city council's new agenda policy violates her rights

DOWNEY – The Downey City Council adopted an official policy on Tuesday regarding how council members may add items to its future meeting agendas.

Council members will now be required to request a potential future agenda item publicly during meetings, and need to have the backing of at least one other member.

Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Alvarez (city of Downey photo)

There had previously been no formal policy for a council member’s requests to be added to an agenda. This caused confusion at the Aug. 23 meeting, when Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Alvarez attempted to agendize a discussion of Bell Gardens’ rent stabilization ordinance but was turned away due to lack of support from the rest of the council.

Matters of rent control and stabilization have been brought up several times since around late 2019 but have failed to gain traction with the Downey City Council.

Alvarez addressed the situation during her comments Tuesday, accusing the council of “changing the rules,” treating her item differently than others, and violating the Brown Act.

“I was not asking to bring back our previous discussion [on rent control]; I wanted to discuss the Bell Gardens ordinance with a future conversation to bring rent control to the agenda,” said Alvarez. “What happened instead is that my colleagues and the city manager violated my rights.

“They did that because they don’t want rent control in our city. They don’t want to help the hardworking working-class families of Downey.”

The City Council voted 4-1 to implement the new policy, with Alvarez in opposition.

Under its new policy, the council will now need to review five items – including Alvarez’s rent control item – at its next council meeting for potential consideration to future agendas.