DOWNEY — The Downey City Council will meet in a special session Thursday to consider an urgency ordinance that would protect renters from eviction due to financial hardships suffered during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The ordinance proposed by Mayor Blanca Pacheco and Councilman Alex Saab would allow residential renters to repay unpaid rent within three months after Downey terminates its local emergency.

The ordinance also prohibits evictions on commercial tenants who have been forced to close by the state or county.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. Members of the public can participate via teleconference by calling (562) 299-6622.

Comments can also be submitted ahead of time at ccpubliccomment@downeyca.org.

The meeting will be streamed live on the City of Downey’s YouTube channel.