SR-211-008 (8)
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NOV 2 4 1981
CM:JG
Santa Monica, California
city Council Meeting, November 24, 1987
TO:
Mayor and City council
FROM:
City Staff
SUBJECT:
Recommendation to Approve Resolution Supporting the
Development of a Regional Film Permit Center
INTRODUCTION
The following outlines a proposal for the creation of a regional
film permit center in West Hollywood supported by the Southern
California Association of Governments (SCAG) and recommends that
the City Council approve a resolution in support of the initial
proposal so that SCAG can apply to the State of California for
preliminary funding for such a center.
BACKGROUND
The recent practice of film companies to move location filming
out of the Los Angeles area and the State of California due to
the high cost and complex logistics of securing film permits in
the region has been of significant concern to state and local
officials.
As a result, the Governor's Office, the City and
County of Los Angeles, and associations such as SCAG have
committed resources toward developing policies and procedures
designed to encourage more film companies to remain in California
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NOV 24 1987
when engaged in location filming. One such proposal, the
development of a regional film permit center in West Hollywood,
is currently being supported by BeAG in partnership with the city
of Los Angeles and the city of Beverly Hills.
DISCUSSION
Currently, when a film company wishes to explore filming
locations or to obtain permits to film, company representatives
must travel to the City in question to obtain information and
approval. As such, much of a location manager's time is spent on
the road or working directly with City representatives on site in
order to negotiate arrangements based on the widely varied
regulations, restrictions and fees of individual communities.
In an attempt to reduce the travel time and difficulty of
obtaining film permits from different communities, SeAG has
proposed the creation of an experimental regional film permit
center in West Hollywood. Ideally, the Center would function as
a II one stop" film permit agency for all of its member
communities, providing detailed information regarding film
location options available in each community, specific
restrictions imposed, and fees required. A request for a film
permit could be filed by a film company at the center, could then
be routed electronically to the specific community for
consideration and could be negotiated with the community from the
permit center via center staff. Permits would then be issued by
the center, but only after the permit had been approved by the
community in question. Thus, local communities would not lose
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control over the permit authorization process. As such, many of
the more routine film shoots could be arranged for by the Center
in far less time.
SCAG hopes that the regional center could also assist member
communities in developing more uniform permit applications, film
ordinances, and fee schedules to further minimize the complexity
of the permit process in the region. Assistance could also be
offered in the development of community-specific promotional
materials geared toward increasing the attractiveness of certain
areas of the region for filming. Finally, SCAG believes the
center could act as a monitoring agent to insure that film
companies adhere to an ethical code of conduct in their filming
activities in order to minimize the disruption which occurs in
communities when filming privileges are abused, thereby
increasing the likelihood that communities in the region will
welcome filming.
Support for the Regional Center Concept
The cities of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills have given their
preliminary support to the need for a regional film permit
center. The County Board of supervisors is currently considering
support of the proposal. SCAG has sought support for the concept
from Santa Monica in recognition of the extensive filming which
takes place in the city and because the County and the City of
Los Angeles felt the support of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica
was critical to the success of such a regional center.
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Once formal approval of the regional film permit center concept
has been obtained from Santa Monica and the county of Los
Angeles, SCAG plans to apply for start-up funding from the State
and to negotiate a long-term commitment for 80% state funding of
the center. Should the State agree to provide initial funding
and to make a long-term financial conuni tment to the regional
center, then negotiations will proceed with the entities involved
to develop a joint exercise of powers agreement, to recruit
additional member communities, and to determine funding
commitments required by such members. At that time, the city of
Santa Monica will be able to determine the extent to whiCh it
wishes to participte in and support such a regional center.
At this time, staff recommends that the city Council limit their
support to adoption of the attached resolution supporting the
need for streamlined film permitting procedures region-wide and
the role of the regional film permit center as an information
clearinghouse and film permit application center. staff is
reluctant to commit to supporting the center as a film permit
negotiating and issuance center due to concern regarding the
potential loss of City authority to approve film permits were
another agency to he directly involved in permit negotiations.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT
There is no budget or fiscal impact resulting from the
recommendations outlined above. Once the center has been formed,
should the City Council decide to assist in the financial support
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of such an operation, additional funds will need to be
appropriated at that time.
RECOMMENDATION
City staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached
resolution supporting: 1) the need for streamlined film permit
procedures region-wide; and 2) the creation of a regional film
permit center in West Hollywood to serve as an information
clearinghouse and to accept applications for film permits from
member communities.
Attachment: Resolution
Prepared by: Julia N. Griffin
(permitl)
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BEFORE DISTRIBUTION CHECK CONTENT OF ALL FOR CITY CfERK'S ACTION
DISTRIBUTION OF RESOLUTION N /?S-~C) ORDINANCE It
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CouncIl MeetIng Date
Introduced:
Agenda Item It
Adopted:
NJilAYS PUBLISH A[()Pl'ED ORDINANC:ES *
*Cross out Attorney I s approval
Was It amended?
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VOTE: AffirmatIve: 7- 6
Negative:
Abstain:
Absent:
PROOF V'OTE~ WITH ANOTHER PERSON BEFORE Al\rvTHr'NG
DISTRIRDTluN: ORIGINAL ~o oe signeo, sealed and filed in Vault.
NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION (Date: )
Department orIginating staff report ( ... )
*C~ ty Attorney does not W'aI1t copl.es of his ordi.t)a11.Ces or resolutions.
~!!anagemen t Se rVi.i~e ~ Lynne Bar,re tte 0rdJ.nances onl y ~
Agency mentloned In document or staff report
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SubJect file (agenda packet)
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Airport
Parking Auth.
Personnel
Planning
Police (en-
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Purchasing
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General Servo
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SEND FOUR COPIES OF AU,_ OROTNANr_F.5 JO:
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SAN'fA MONICA MUNICfPAL COURT
;725 MAIN STREE4 Room 118
SAnTA l\'fONICA, CA 90401
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RESOLUTION NUMBER 7520
(CCS)
(city council Series)
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A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA SUPPORTING
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL FILM PERMIT CENTER
WHEREAS, the Los Angeles region and the State of
California are concerned about the increasing amount of filming
which is being done outside the state; and
WHEREAS, filming regulations, film permit requirements
and fees vary widely througout the region; and
WHEREAS, the film industry currently experiences
significant inconvenience resulting from the need to negotiate
film permits separately with each municipal jurisdiction~ and
WHEREAS, the creation of a regional film permit center
with the responsibility of accepting film permit applications for
member jurisdictions and facilitating the issuance of film
permits would greatly reduce the inconvenience currently
experienced by the film industry; and
WHEREAS, the region and the industry would benefit from
the development of a film resource center to serve as a filming
information clearinghouse to facilitate filming location research
conducted by film companies,
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. ,
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City council hereby declares jts support
in concept for the creation of a regional film permit center to
accept film permit applications and to help facilitate the prompt
issuance of film permits by member jurisdictions subject to the
filming regulations enforced by such jurisdictions.
SECTION 2. The City Council further declares its
support in concept for the creation of a regional filming
information clearinghouse to facilitate location research by film
companies.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption
of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall
be in full force and effect.
Approved as to Form:
~ "'^' ~
Robert M. Myers
City Attorney
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I
Adopted and approve
4th day of November, 1987.
I hereby certify that
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(regOing
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Resolution No. 7520(CCS)
was duly adopted by the City council of the City of Santa Monica
at a meeting thereof held on November 24, 1987 by the following
Council vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers: Finkel, Jennings, A. Katz, H.
Katz, Reed, Zane, Mayor Conn
Noes: Councilmembers: None
Abstain: Councilmembers: None
Absent: Councilmembers: None
ATTEST: