City Council Minutes
Special Meeting – September 10, 2024 1
MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
SPECIAL MEETING – OPEN SESSION
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Special City Council Meeting – Open Session on September 10, 2024 at 5:10 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Trujillo presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Mario Trujillo Mayor
Hector Sosa Mayor Pro Tem
Claudia M. Frometa Council Member (excused)
Horacio Ortiz Council Member
Dorothy Pemberton Council Member
ALSO PRESENT
Roger Bradley, City Manager
Vaniah De Rojas, Assistant City Manager
John Funk, City Attorney
Scott Loughner, Interim Police Chief
Anthony Hildebrand, Assistant Fire Chief
Matthew Baumgardner, Public Works Director
James McQueen, Human Resources Director
Irma Huitron, Community Development Director
Stephen Hannah, Finance Director
Jason Chacon, Recreation Manager
M. Alicia Duarte, CMC, City Clerk
The Invocation was delivered by Monsignor Lorenzo Miranda, Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Emmanuel Rivera, Downey Sister Cities Association.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA, CONSENT CALENDAR AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS Mayor Trujillo asked City Clerk Duarte if any written public comments were received regarding Special Meeting Agenda items. City Clerk Duarte confirmed no written public comments were received.
Mayor Trujillo asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment regarding Special Meeting Agenda items.
Speaker No. 1, no name provided, commented in support of El Grullo, Jalisco, Mexico as the City of Downey’s Sister City.
It was moved by Council Member Ortiz, seconded by Council Member Pemberton, and so ordered by Mayor Trujillo, to close public comment.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
1. ADOPTED RESOLUTION TO PROCLAIM EL GRULLO, JALISCO, MEXICO AS THE CITY OF DOWNEY’S SISTER CITY: Administration.
City Council Minutes
Special Meeting – September 10, 2024 2
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 24-8268, PROCLAIMING THE CITY OF EL GRULLO OF THE
STATE OF JALISCO OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES AS A SISTER CITY TO THE CITY
OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Mayor Trujillo provided brief comments noting that Downey Sister Cities Association is a separate nonprofit organization that has operated independently for years. He explained that the Sister City program began nationally in 1956, when President Eisenhower called for cities across America to establish international relationships, and Downey was the first to respond by becoming a Sister City with Guadalajara, Jalisco in 1962. He highlighted the history of Downey’s Sister Cities program, including San Quintín, Mexico in 1980, Ensenada, Mexico in 2001, Fresnillo, Mexico in 2009, and Roscommon, Ireland in 2013, reflecting Downey’s Irish heritage through its founder, John Gately Downey. He stated that in 2024, the City would establish a new Sister City relationship, and today’s item was to formalize that relationship.
It was moved by Council Member Ortiz, seconded by Council Member Pemberton, and carried 4- 0, with Council Member Frometa absent, to adopt Resolution No. 24-8268, proclaiming the City of El Grullo of the State of Jalisco of the United Mexican States as a Sister City to the City of Downey, California, United States of America.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Trujillo adjourned the Special City Council Meeting – Open Session at 5:39 p.m.
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC HECTOR SOSA
City Clerk Mayor