City of Downey

Municipal Government Servicesdowneyca.org

The City of Downey is a full-service municipal government serving over 113,000 residents across 12.41 square miles in Los Angeles County, California, delivering police, fire, water, public works, library, parks, recreation, and economic development services through 800+ employees and a Council-Manager charter.

Company typePrivate
Founded1956
HeadquartersDowney, United States
Headcount501–1,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What City of Downey does

The City of Downey is a full-service municipal government incorporated on December 17, 1956 as the 50th city in Los Angeles County, California, operating under a Council-Manager charter over 12.41 square miles and serving more than 113,000 residents with a workforce of over 800 employees. It delivers the complete spectrum of municipal services — police protection, fire suppression and emergency medical response, water distribution, sewer and storm drainage, public works, building and code enforcement, planning, library services, parks and recreation, transit (Downey LINK and Dial-A-Ride), and economic development — through a network of city facilities, an in-house Police and Fire Department, and dedicated operational assets including 20 wells, 276 miles of water mains, 5 fire stations, and 112 acres of parks.

The City's technology stack is built on standard municipal SaaS platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure: Accela Citizen Access Portal handles electronic building permit submittal, Laserfiche manages the document database for agendas, ordinances, and resolutions, JustFOIA powers public records requests, Paymentus processes online water utility billing, ActiveNet manages parks and recreation registration, and an internal GIS system supports interactive mapping. The Downey Connect mobile app provides residents on-the-go access to service requests. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of property and related taxes, the voter-approved Measure S half-cent transactions and use tax (effective April 2017, expiring March 2037), water utility usage fees, business license fees, building permits and inspection fees, and parks and recreation fees including the Rio Hondo Golf Club and Columbia Memorial Space Center admissions.

Distribution and service delivery occur through City Hall and departmental offices (with hours shifting to a 4/10 Monday-Thursday schedule effective July 2026), a 24/7 online self-service portal, the Downey Connect mobile application, and specialized facilities such as the 20,000-square-foot Columbia Memorial Space Center and Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center. The City partners with regional bodies including Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Southern California Association of Governments, the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Clean Power Alliance, and Los Angeles County for service delivery, workforce development, and infrastructure coordination, and maintains strategic branding around its aerospace heritage as the historical manufacturing site for the Apollo Space Program.

City of Downey firmographics

Firmographics

Name: City of Downey
Legal name: City of Downey
Website: https://downeyca.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1956
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 501–1,000 employees
Short description: The City of Downey is a full-service municipal government serving over 113,000 residents across 12.41 square miles in Los Angeles County, California, delivering police, fire, water, public works, library, parks, recreation, and economic development services through 800+ employees and a Council-Manager charter.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

City of Downey industry classification

Industry

Product category: Municipal Government Services
NAICS: Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Utilities (221), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711)
SIC: Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)
akta.pro primary industry: Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)
akta.pro secondary industries: Public Works Departments (Streets, Bridges, Stormwater, Fleet, Maintenance) (BPAIALAD), Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL), Storm Drain & Yard Drain Cleaning & Repair (HSAOABAL)

Keywords

Municipal government services
Public safety services
Water utility services
Parks and recreation
Building permits

Where City of Downey is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Downey
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

City of Downey business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

Transactions and Use Tax (Measure S): Half-percent transactions and use tax approved by voters in November 2016, effective April 1, 2017. Revenue used to protect and enhance quality of city services. Expires March 31, 2037.
Business License Fees: Fees collected from businesses operating within the city for licenses and permits
Water Utility Billing: Water distribution services billed to residents; payment processing through online portal and traditional methods
Building Permits and Inspection Fees: Fees for building permits, construction and demolition inspections, and related development services
Parks and Recreation Fees: Fees for recreation classes, facility rentals, Rio Hondo Golf Club, special events, and summer programs
Property and Related Taxes: Property taxes and other municipal tax revenues supporting general city operations

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Usage-based	Monthly	Water utility billing based on usage
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Public records copy fees
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Columbia Memorial Space Center admission
Subscription	Multi-year contract	Parks and Recreation programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

City of Downey product offering

Product offering

Core offering

City of Downey is a full-service municipal government providing police protection, fire suppression and emergency medical services, water distribution and utility billing, community development and building permits, library services, parks maintenance, recreation programming, public works infrastructure, and economic development services to over 113,000 residents across 12.41 square miles. The city also operates the Columbia Memorial Space Center, Downey Theatre, Rio Hondo Golf Club, transit services, and offers digital self-service portals for permits, payments, and service requests.

Product overview

The City of Downey is a full-service municipal government providing police protection, fire services, water utilities, community development, parks and recreation, library services, and public works to approximately 113,000 residents across 12.4 square miles. The city's digital services include an Accela-based electronic building permit portal, JustFOIA public records request system, and online water bill payment through Paymentus. Core civic infrastructure includes the Columbia Memorial Space Center (aerospace museum), Downey Theatre, Downey Library, Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center, and Downey LINK transit system. The city also maintains extensive parks, recreation facilities, and transit options including Dial-A-Ride for seniors and disabled residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Downey Connect: Mobile application for city services and resident access
Downey Police Department
Downey Fire Department
Columbia Memorial Space Center
Downey Theatre
Downey LINK
Downey Dial-A-Ride
Rio Hondo Golf Club

Products and services

Downey Police Department Full-service law enforcement providing uniform patrol, traffic enforcement, investigations, crime prevention, and community policing for over 113,000 residents of Downey.
Downey Fire Department Fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention, and emergency preparedness for the City of Downey, operating from five fire stations.
Water Utility Services Water distribution, billing, and conservation services for residents and businesses in Downey, including online bill payment through the Paymentus platform.
Community Development Services Building permits, planning, code enforcement, housing division, and economic development services for residents and businesses in Downey.
Parks and Recreation Services Parks maintenance, recreation programs, aquatics, sports leagues, senior services, Downey Theatre, transit services (Downey LINK, Dial-A-Ride), and cemetery district operations.
Downey City Library Public library services with books, digital resources, computer labs, and community programs for Downey residents.
Public Works Services Infrastructure maintenance including 20 wells, 276 miles of water mains, 187 miles of sewer mains, 33 miles of storm drains, 210 miles of streets, and 15,600-tree urban forest.
Columbia Memorial Space Center 20,000 square foot hands-on space museum and activity center featuring robotics lab, computer lab, and interactive exhibits on aerospace and space exploration.
Accela Citizen Access Portal Electronic plan check and building permit submission portal for online building permit applications and plan reviews by residents and contractors.
Public Records Request Portal Online portal for submitting and tracking public records requests electronically through JustFOIA software, providing transparency and record access.

Quantifiable outcome

Gross savings of $55 million from CalPERS Pension Obligations refinancing
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use City of Downey

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

City of Downey technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

City of Downey partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Downey participates as a member of the Gateway Cities COG Board of Directors and Executive Committee, collaborating with neighboring municipalities on regional planning, transportation, and economic development initiatives.
Downey Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting local business community through economic development initiatives, business assistance programs, and collaborative marketing efforts for Downey businesses.
Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint powers authority providing animal control services to member cities in southeast Los Angeles County.
SELACO (Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partnership providing job training, employment services, and career resources for Downey residents and businesses.
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Districts 2 and 18)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal service partnership for sanitation and wastewater treatment services for Downey residents and businesses.
California Contract Cities Association (CCCA)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague of California Cities membership providing advocacy, policy development, and networking for California municipalities.
Independent Cities Association (ICA)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerMembership association of independent California cities for shared advocacy and policy initiatives.
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning organization addressing housing, transportation, and sustainability across Southern California.
Interstate 5 Consortium Cities Joint Powers AuthoritymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint powers authority addressing transportation and infrastructure along the I-5 corridor affecting Downey and neighboring cities.
Los Angeles CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partnership for mental health services, public health, and regional service coordination including Mental Health Staff assigned to Downey PD.
Clean Power AlliancemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity choice energy program providing clean power options for Downey residents and businesses with green projects initiatives.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

City of Downey competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

City of Paramount, CA: Small southeast LA County city (population ~55,000) operating under Council-Manager form. Smaller-scale peer useful for unit-cost benchmarking of municipal service delivery at the lower end of the size range.
City of Cerritos, CA: Adjacent LA County city of similar demographic profile with own water utility, performing arts center (Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts), and full-service operations. Strong peer for cultural facility utilization and tourism strategies comparable to the Columbia Memorial Space Center.
City of Norwalk, CA: Southeast LA County city of similar population (~100,000 residents) operating under a Council-Manager charter with comparable municipal services. Useful peer for benchmarking Measure S-equivalent revenue tools, water utility performance, and capital delivery.
City of Lakewood, CA: Adjacent southeast LA County general-law city of similar size (~80,000 residents, ~50 sq mi under contract). Comparable in delivering police, fire, water, and parks/recreation through a Council-Manager form of government — a near-perfect structural peer for benchmarking service delivery and cost structure.
City of South Gate, CA: Southeast LA County general-law city of similar population (~95,000) offering the same core municipal services including a municipally owned water utility. Closely comparable operating model for utility rate benchmarking and pension liability analysis.
City of Pico Rivera, CA: Contiguous southeast LA County city with similar demographics, Council-Manager government, and full-service municipal mandate. Comparable on contract city dynamics (LA County Sheriff contract vs. own police department) and economic development programs.
City of Bellflower, CA: Neighboring southeast LA County city of comparable size (~75,000 residents) operating with police, fire, public works, and community development. Strong peer for shared service arrangements and operational scale comparisons.
City of Whittier, CA: Adjacent southeast LA County city of similar size (~87,000 residents) with own water utility, library, and parks system. Comparable peer for parks/fire bond program structures and Measure S-style revenue tools.

Broad incumbents

City of Long Beach, CA: Larger full-service LA County municipality (population ~460,000) with its own water utility, port, airport, and municipal operations. Useful broader incumbent peer for understanding scale economics and service breadth that Downey may pursue through regional partnerships.
City of Los Angeles (LA City): The county's dominant municipal government and overlapping service territory (DWP water utility, LAPD, LAFD). Useful broader-incumbent peer for utility rate-setting, labor/benefit structures, and federal/state grant capture that ultimately affect Downey's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

City of Downey financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

City of Downey leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

City of Downey subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries4 records

City of Downey funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

City of Downey M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Downey

What does City of Downey do?

Is City of Downey a public or private company?

City of Downey is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was City of Downey founded?

City of Downey was founded in 1956. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is City of Downey based?

City of Downey is headquartered in Downey, United States, in the North America region.

How does City of Downey make money?

Six revenue lines are on record. Transactions and Use Tax (Measure S) is the primary driver. The others are business License Fees, water Utility Billing, building Permits and Inspection Fees, parks and Recreation Fees and property and Related Taxes.

Who are City of Downey's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are City of Paramount, CA, City of Cerritos, CA, City of Norwalk, CA, City of Lakewood, CA, City of South Gate, CA, City of Pico Rivera, CA, City of Bellflower, CA and City of Whittier, CA. Broad incumbents are City of Long Beach, CA and City of Los Angeles (LA City).

Does City of Downey have an API?

No public API is recorded for City of Downey.

What industry is City of Downey in?

City of Downey's product category is Municipal Government Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAF, Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities), with a secondary code of BPAIALAD, Public Works Departments (Streets, Bridges, Stormwater, Fleet, Maintenance). Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4941.