SR-211-008
EPWM:CP:JA:MC F:EPWM\ADMIN\WPDOCS\STAFFREPORTS\Filming Citations.doc
September 28, 1999 Santa Monica, California
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Staff
Subject Recommendation to City Council to Authorize the City Attorney to Prepare
an Ordinance Making it a Misdemeanor to Commercially Film in the City
Without a Permit or in Violation of a Film Permit
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council direct the City Attorney to prepare an
ordinance making it a misdemeanor to conduct any commercial filming or still
photography in the City without a valid City Film Permit or in violation of any conditions
of a City Film Permit.
Discussion
Pursuant to the authority granted in Resolution No. 8410, the Environmental and Public
Works Management Department issues approximately 700 commercial film and still
photography permits annually. A relatively small amount of commercial filming occurs
within the City without a valid permit. In addition, conditions of a permit such as when
and where filming may occur have occasionally been violated. Currently, there is no
enforcement mechanism available when violations and non-permitted filming occur.
City staff recommends that an ordinance be drafted for Council review and approval to
make it a misdemeanor to commercially film within the City without a permit, and to film
in violation of any Film Permit conditions.
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Budget/Financial Impact
There are no budget or financial impacts in making filming violations a misdemeanor.
Recommendation
City staff recommends that the City Council direct the City Attorney to prepare an
ordinance making it a misdemeanor to conduct any commercial filming or still
photography within the City without a valid City Film Permit, or to film in violation of the
conditions of a Film Permit.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management
Joan L. Akins, Administrative Services Manager
Melissa Cole, Senior Administrative Analyst
Alicia Cortrite, Senior Code Enforcement Attorney
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