Mayor's Corner: August 2025
City of Downey photo
Hello Downey,
School is back in session, and with cooler days ahead, it’s the perfect time to explore everything our community has to offer. I invite you to get out and enjoy all the fun the City has planned for you and your family this fall.
Community Engagement
Some of our favorite fall community events and programming will soon be here! We invite everyone to join these upcoming City activities.
Terracotta Pot Painting (+)
Wednesday, September 3, from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Downey City Library - 11121 Brookshire Ave
Ages: 16+
Adaptive Community Advocacy: Regional Center Recreation Services (+)
Wednesday, September 10, from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Downey City Library - 11121 Brookshire Ave
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony (*)
Thursday, September 11, at 10:00 AM
Downey Civic Center - 11111 Brookshire Ave
Adaptive Recreation – Reptile Show (*)
Saturday, September 13
Apollo Park Activity Room – 12544 Rives Ave
Fee: $5 per person
Book Binding Workshop (+)
Saturday, September 13, from 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Downey City Library - 11121 Brookshire Ave
Ages: 18+
Registration Required
Robotics + Coding Class (~)
Saturday, September 13, from 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Columbia Memorial Space Center
12400 Columbia Way
Grades: K-6
Registration Required
Senior Quill Registration – Spooky Quill (*)
Wednesday, September 17
8:30 AM – In Person Downey Residents (only) Registration
12:00 PM – Non-Residents & Over the Phone Registrations
Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center – 7810 Quill Drive
Fee: $5 registration fee
Ages: 50+
Stay Healthy Downey – Fentanyl & Narcan Presentation (*)
Wednesday, September 17, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center – 7810 Quill Drive
Ages: 18+
Collective Literary Art Magazine: Monologues + Monotype Printmaking (+)
Thursday, September 18, from 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Downey City Library - 11121 Brookshire Ave
Ages: 16+
Registration Required
Happy Little Paint Along (+)
Saturday, September 20, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Downey City Library - 11121 Brookshire Ave
Ages: 18+
Registration Required
Senior Monday Registration (*)
Monday, September 22
Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center - 7810 Quill Drive
Fee: $5 per person
Ages: 50+
Creative Hands Social Club (*)
Friday, September 26, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center – 7810 Quill Drive
Fee: $5 per person
Ages: 50+
Felting Workshop (+)
Saturday, September 27, from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Downey City Library - 11121 Brookshire Ave
Ages: 18+
Registration Required
Beyond the Book (+)
Saturday, October 11, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Downey City Library - 11121 Brookshire Ave
For more information and to register, contact:
(*) Parks and Recreation Department at (562) 904-7238 or visit www.downeyca.org/PR.
(~) Columbia Memorial Space Center at (562) 231-1200 or visit www.cityofstem.org.
(+) Downey City Library at (562) 904-7360 or visit www.downeylibrary.org.
(-) Downey Police Department at (562) 861-0771 or email sarroyo@downeyca.org.
(^) City Manager’s Office (562) 904-7284 or email sduren@downeyca.org.
Fall Event Spotlights
I Love Downey Festival
Get ready to celebrate everything you love about Downey! Mark your calendars! The 1st Annual I Love Downey Festival is happening on Saturday, September 20th, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM in Downtown Downey. This free, family-friendly event will be packed with fun! You won't want to miss the live bands, captivating art exhibition, local craft beer and wine garden, festival attractions, and tasty food from your favorite local spots. There will also be plenty of giveaways and community booths to explore. Gather your friends and family and come celebrate our amazing community!
Havana Nights
Join us on Saturday, October 3rd, as the City of Downey presents the 11th Annual Havana Nights, this annual celebration is returning to Downtown Downey on Saturday, October 3rd, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The festivities will take over Downey Avenue between 2nd and 4th streets, featuring a live band, energetic performances, a dedicated beer and wine garden, a cigar area, and so much more!
For more information on either the I Love Downey Festival or Havana Nights, contact the Downey Parks and Recreation Department at (562) 904-7238.
Coffee with the Mayor
I'd like to personally invite you to join me for a cup of coffee and a conversation. Please join me at the Columbia Memorial Space Center for Coffee with the Mayor on Thursday, October 2nd from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. This is a free event, open to everyone in the community, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and answering your questions. I hope to see you there!
Keep Downey Beautiful
The Keep Downey Beautiful program is returning from its summer break with a cleanup event on Saturday, September 13th! Help us keep our community clean by joining us at 8:45 AM at the Bank of America located at 9330 Firestone Blvd. There is no need to register, just show up! Keep Downey Beautiful will provide volunteers with gloves, safety vests, litter sticks, trash bags, and water. Please remember to wear closed-toe shoes and old clothes. In the case of inclement weather, cleanups will be canceled.
For more information, contact the Public Works Department at (562) 904-7102 or visit www.downeyca.org/kdb.
Public Safety
Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium Ion Battery Safety in Your Home
The National Fire Protection Association provides these tips on Lithium Ion safety:
BUY only listed products:
• When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, take time to research it. Look for a stamp from a nationally recognized testing lab (such as Underwriters’ Laboratories, UL) on the packaging and product, which means that it meets established safety standards.
• Many products sold online and in stores may not meet safety standards and could increase the risk of fire.
CHARGE devices safely:
• Always use the cables that come with the product to charge it. Also, charge the device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If you need a new charger, buy one from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved.
• Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t charge it under a pillow, on a bed, or on a couch. This could cause a fire.
• Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged.
DISPOSE OF/RECYCLE batteries responsibly:
• Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could catch fire.
• Recycling your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location is the best way to dispose of them. Visit www.call2recycle.org to find a recycling spot near you.
The Downey Fire Department responds to many fires and hazardous condition incidents related to Lithium Ion batteries, commonly from improper charging or storage. Following these simple tips will help ensure that all of your devices are safe.
Community Emergency Response Team Training (CERT)
The City of Downey's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is offering a training that can improve your ability to survive and help others in the aftermath of a disaster, when professional responders may not be able to reach you.
Join us at Fire Station 1, Training Room, (12222 Paramount Blvd., Downey) for an introduction to the CERT program on Friday, September 19, from 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM and Saturday & Sunday, September 20-21, form 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Individuals completing CERT training will be able to: increase their neighborhood’s disaster readiness, assess damage after a disaster, extinguish small fires and teach fire safety, perform light search and rescue operations, perform triage and provide medical services to the injured, and organize procurement of Supplies.
Participants must be 11 years or older. Children between the ages of 11-17 years old MUST be accompanied by a participating adult (1 adult per child). All participants must attend all 2.5 days of training to receive a certification of completion.
Resources
The City of Downey has officially launched its brand-new mobile app, Downey Connect. The new app is an upgrade to our existing platform and is designed to make connecting with city services easier and more convenient than ever before. If you're already using the old "City of Downey" app, all you need to do is "update" the app to start using Downey Connect. New users can download the app right now from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It's a refreshed, convenient way to have Downey right at your fingertips. So, download Downey Connect today and start connecting with your City!
Graffiti Hotline
(562) 923-4484
Abandoned Shopping Carts
(800) 252-4613
Illegal Dumping
(562) 904-7194
Homelessness Hotline
(562) 299-6770
Community Development
Electronic Plan Check Submittal Update
In an effort to offer our customers greater convenience, as of January 1, 2025, the City has transitioned to 100% electronic plan check review (EPR) submittals, via the City’s online submittal site, known as Accela Citizen Access Portal (ACA), (https://aca-prod.accela.com/downey). As of mid-July, the ACA system has been upgraded to further assist applicants with streamlining resubmittals, while providing automated notifications to applicants.
The City’s Building Division EPR webpage contains various short video tutorials and handout links to assist the public with:
• Creating an ACA login and account registration;
• Understanding what documents must be submitted via the ACA portal; and,
• How to request an inspection via ACA, once plans have been approved, and a building permit has been issued.
Visit the Building Division’s EPR webpage at https://www.downeyca.org/our-city/departments/community-development/building-safety-division/electronic-plan-check-submittal-copy for more information.
Pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Plan Program
The City of Downey has created a Pre-Approved ADU Plan Program to help homeowners build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) faster. This program allows designers and architects to get their ADU plans pre-approved by the City, giving homeowners a variety of ready-to-go designs to choose from. By selecting a pre-approved design and submitting it with their specific site information, homeowners can significantly expedite the permitting process.
The City is continually accepting construction documents from design professionals which, when approved, are made available to the public. For design professionals, the initial submittal and review process will be very similar to our normal plan check/submittal procedure. To have your plans included in the City of Downey’s pre-approved ADU plan program, you will:
• Submit a permit application for each plan to be reviewed
• Under address please use AB1332 PA-ADU
• Obtain pre-approval (the OK to submit) from Planning
• Submit your plans to the Building Division for review
• Pay the plan check fee for each standard plan submitted for review
For more information please visit, https://www.downeyca.org/our-city/departments/community-development/building-safety-division/preapproved-adu-plans, or call the Planning Division at (562) 904-7154.
General Plan 2045: Community Engagement
The City is continuing its work on the General Plan Update, a comprehensive guide for the city's growth and development over the next 20 years. The city's planning staff has been actively engaging the public and has attended multiple community events throughout 2025.
For the latest information and to learn how you can participate, visit the Comprehensive General Plan Update page on the City's website. (https://www.downeyca.org/our-city/departments/community-development/planning/general-plan-update)
Code Enforcement
The City of Downey is committed to keeping the community safe and welcoming for all. Proactive steps are taken to maintain our neighborhoods, ensuring Downey remains vibrant for everyone. Here are ways you can help.
How to Report a Code Violation
City of Downey Code Enforcement: Report bulky items, large trash/debris, and encampments on public property in the City of Downey.
(562) 904-2392
CodeEnf@downeyca.org
Downey Connect App
Caltrans: Report bulky items, large trash/debris, and encampments at freeway/underpasses.
Online Customer Service Request: https://csr.dot.ca.gov/
Union Pacific: Report bulky items, trash/debris, and encampments at railroad tracks.
(888) 877-7267
Online Communication Center: www.UP.com.notifyUP
A Quality Neighborhood Starts With You
To assist in maintaining a clean and safe environment, the City of Downey has put together a helpful resource guide. This guide offers valuable information on addressing common neighborhood concerns, including maintenance, safety, and property upkeep.
For more details on maintaining a quality neighborhood, download the brochure at www.downeyca.org/qualityneighborhood.
Thank you for your support. Stay connected by following our social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @cityofdowneyca and @discoverdowney.
Hector Sosa
Mayor, City of Downey