ITEM 9-C
Council Meeting: May 26, 1992
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Revise Existing Film Permit Fees
and Add New Film Permit Fees
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution
to increase existing City filming fees and add new filming fees
and related charges.
BACKGROUND
Due to its attractive location adjacent to the Santa Monica Bay;
having appealing attractions such as the Pier, Airport, Palisades
Park and unique business districts; and its close proximity to the
film industry, the City of Santa Monica has become the second most
popular location for filming in California after the City of Los
Angeles. As a result, the City has issued a substantial number of
permits for filming, which has significantly increased over the
last few years. During FY 1990-91, the City issued permits for a
total of 1121 days of filming and still photography. This
translated into a 218 percent increase over the 515 permits issued
in FY 1988-89, only two years earlier.
Over the years, the City has established procedures to administer
and coordinate filming activities throughout the City. This
activity has included centralizing the film permitting and
coordination function within the Administrative Division of the
General Services Department to expedite permitting efforts. The
services provided include, but are not limited to, disseminating
information about City procedures, services and fees; reviewing
proposals, locations and issuing permits and permit amendments;
coordinating between departments for sign-offs and information;
providing follow-up and enforcement; and coordinating and
processing complaints from residents, business persons and the
film industry to resolution.
As filming activities have substantially increased in a relatively
short period of time, so have the problems associated with these
activities. These problems include addressing and mitigating
undesirable parking and traffic impacts and other concerns over
how to better control the potential community disruption caused by
constant filming activity. Generally, these problems have
required the City to upgrade its staff and processes to
effectively administer the substantial workload caused by the
increase in filming activity.
Filming should be considered a special activity and, as such, City
services and administration must be compensated fully and should
not be subsidized by taxpayer funds. Furthermore, fees should
also reflect charges similar to other cities and for actual use of
public property consistent with existing City policy.
Given this background, it is staff's position that the fees
charged for filming should be reviewed and adopted in a
comprehensive fashion to provide reasonable revenue to the City to
cover associated administrative costs, to compensate for use of
public property and for the disruption caused to the community.
CURRENT FILM FEES
Currently, the City charges filmmakers a permit fee for motion
picture filming and still photography, and charges a separate
"use" fee for filming at certain specific locations. These
charges are levied on a per day basis.
PERMIT FEES
The existing film permit fees are based in part on administrative
and processing costs to the City, which include the costs of staff
salaries, supplies and overhead. In addition, the permit fees are
compensation to the City for the use of public property, which
taxpayers have improved and maintained with tax funds and other
revenue sources. These improved areas include streets, alleys,
sidewalks, parks, and government buildings that are used in
filming activity. It is important to note that charging for the
use of public property is similar to fees charged to construction
companies for the use of City property for staging vehicles and
equipment as well as rental of parking areas and parking meters.
The film permit fee for motion picture or television filming in
Santa Monica, which has been in effect since 1976, (although
slightly modified in 1984), is $400 per day. The daily permit fee
for still photography is $100 per day. These fees are deposited
in a General Fund revenue account. This fee is charged whether
the filming takes place on City streets, the beach, parks or other
public places.
A reduced film permit fee is charged for filming at certain
specific and unique locations including the Airport, Pier and 415
Pacific Coast Highway. Filming at these locations are required to
pay a $100 permit fee per day for motion filming and $50 per day
for still photography. The reduced permit fees for these
locations are charged to compensate the City for costs associated
with administration and issuance of the permit, and are reduced
since filmmakers using these areas are required to pay an
additional user fee to the appropriate administrative agencies, as
discussed below.
USE FEE
A use fee is charged for the use of unique filming locations that
are desirable to the industry for location shooting, including the
Airport, Bayside Business District (Third Street Promenade), Pier
and 415 Pacific Coast Highway. This fee was established to
compensate for use of these areas, which have required a large
investment of funds to improve and require special maintenance
costs. In addition, the charges are levied to cover
administrative costs for the agencies that regulate filming and
other activities in those specific locations.
The following information summarizes the current daily rates for
filming in Santa Monica:
MOTION STILL
AIRPORT - Permit Fees - $100 $ 50
Use Fees - 600 400
TOTAL $700 $450
BAYSIDE - Permit Fees - $400 $100
BUSINESS Use Fees - 250-1,500* 250-500*
DISTRICT
TOTAL - $650-1,900* $350-600*
*Fees depend on anticipated impact on businesses and residents in
the District.
PIER - Permit Fees - $100 $ 50
Use Fees - 1000 250
TOTAL $1100 $300
415 - Permit Fees - $100 $ 50
PACIFIC Use Fees - 2,000-3,500* 350-2,500*
COAST
HIGHWAY TOTAL - $2,100-3,600* $400-2,550*
*Fees depend on the location, number of rooms used, time and other
factors.
ALL - Permit Fees - $400 $100
OTHER
LOCATIONS
All of these daily rates are based on calendar days, which is
defined as a 24 hour period beginning at 12 midnight and ending at
11:59 p.m. Any filming taking place within that time period would
be charged a daily fee. For example, if filming in a commercial
area began at 8 p.m. on one day and lasted until 2 a.m. the next
day, fees for two days would be charged. This policy is
consistent with other permits issued in the City. The policy to
charge filming fees based on a calendar day versus a 24 hour
period varies by jurisdiction, although charging fees on a
calendar day basis is used by the beach cities of Manhattan Beach,
Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach.
STUDENT, NON-PROFIT, AND EDUCATIONAL FILMING FEES
At this time there is no permit charge for student filming as long
as verification is provided from the educational institution and
there is liability insurance on file. Non-profit organizations
are also exempt from permit fees. Educational film productions
are charged only $100 per day to film.
REVENUES
In FY 1990-91, the City received a total of $314,998 in film
permit revenues. Of this amount, $244,912 went to the General
Fund, $54,886 was generated for the Pier Fund and $15,200 for the
Airport Fund. This revenue accounts for money derived from permit
and use fees only, and does not take into consideration personnel
(such as Police and Fire Department staff), parking or other
revenues generated in conjunction with filming activities. The
attached Table I provides a summary of the number of permits
issued for various locations in the City and the related revenue
generated for FY 90-91.
FEE COMPARISONS
In order to gauge the City's fee levels, a survey of other
jurisdictions' fees for filming was conducted. The survey included
surrounding cities, neighboring beach cities and other cities of
comparable size. The fees charged vary widely, but it appears
that cities that are desirable locations to filmmakers due to
their having unique features do charge higher fees. Cities in
this category include Beverly Hills and the beach cities along the
coast.
In most cases, the other jurisdictions charge a one-time
application fee per shoot and a daily permit fee, whereas Santa
Monica does not charge an application fee, but requires the
payment of a daily permit fee. Other jurisdictions charge special
use fees for filming at specific desirable locations, which is
similar to Santa Monica's fee structure.
Santa Monica's present permit fee of $400 per day for motion
filming is less than the cities of Manhattan Beach ($1,500),
Beverly Hills ($855), Hermosa Beach ($733),and Pasadena ($612).
It is the same as the City of Glendale and Los Angeles County. It
is more than the Cities of Los Angeles ($300) and Redondo Beach
($342) although Redondo Beach charges a one time registration fee
of $1,000 per filmmaker.
Regarding use fees, different cities charge additional or larger
fees to allow filming at special locations that are attractive to
filmmakers as does the City of Santa Monica. For example, the
City of Beverly Hills charges $2,150 per day for filming the
exterior of their City Hall and filming in city parks. The City
of Glendale charges $10 per hour in addition to the $400 film
permit fee and $150 application fee to film in city parks, while
the City of Pasadena charges $100 per hour to film the exterior of
their City Hall plus the daily permit fee of $612. By comparison,
the City of Santa Monica has charged $1,500 per day to film in
City Hall and charges the $400 permit fee per day to film in city
parks.
Although the fees vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the
City's proposed fee increases will be comparable to fees charged
for similar types of filming elsewhere. The attached Table II
contains this information as well as current and proposed fees for
Santa Monica.
PROPOSED FEE REVISIONS
Based on the information provided in this report, it is
recommended that the City Film Permit fees, Use fees and ancillary
fees be upgraded or established as follows and as detailed in the
attached Table III. No changes are proposed for staff
requirements for location supervision including sworn (public
safety) and non-sworn
personnel.
PERMIT FEES
1. PERMIT FEE - CITY PROPERTY - Increase the City film permit fee
for motion picture or television filming from $400 to $500 per day
and increase the still photography permit fee from $100 to $200
per day. This would apply to areas that are not considered
special use locations as discussed in the following section.
2. PERMIT FEES - SPECIAL USE LOCATIONS - Standardize the permit
fee charged in conjunction with filming at the Airport, Bayside
Business District, Beaches, and 415 Pacific Coast Highway. This
fee would be established at $250 per day for motion filming and
$100 per day for still photography. These fees are equivalent to
one-half of the City permit fee as described in 1.
3. PERMIT FEES - PARKS - Establish a daily film permit fee of
$750 per day for motion filming in any City park, which would be
an increase from the present permit fee of $400. Still
photography would be charged at the basic permit fee of $200 per
day.
4. PERMIT FEES - CITY HALL - Establish new fees for filming of
the exterior or interior of City Hall. Exterior filming of City
Hall would be charged at $1,500 per day, and interior filming be
charged at $2,500 per day. Commercial still photography permits
for City Hall are proposed to be $500 for exterior shots and
$1,000 for interior shots. A $25,000 refundable security deposit
would also be required prior to issuance of a permit for motion
filming and a $1,000 refundable security deposit for still
photography. The permit fees are derived from evaluation of
probable value to film companies using a unique and historical
building while mitigating possible impact and damage while the
activity is taking place.
It is of concern that filming inside of City Hall does not
interrupt normal course of business. Therefore, it is recommended
that allowable filming times be limited to non-workdays or after 6
p.m., upon approval by the City Manager.
All of the film permit fees noted in this section would be
deposited in the City's General Fund.
USE FEES
The proposed Use fees are outlined below:
1. AIRPORT USE FEES - It is recommended that the Airport use fee
be increased from $600 to $750 for motion filming. Still
photography on Airport property would continue to be assessed a
use fee of $400 for basic still photography. These fees would be
deposited in the Airport Fund.
In the past, the City and Airport Department have not consistently
charged filmmakers for permits on leaseholds that are part of the
Airport property. However, it has been the experience of Airport
personnel that any filming at the Airport may impact operations,
parking, traffic circulation, safety and other airport users,
tenants and businesses, whether directly or indirectly. Airport
staff needs to review each proposed shoot with the film company to
reduce impacts and mitigate potential problems, assist location
managers with Airport property insurance and safety requirements
and coordinate approvals with the City's permit office. It is
therefore recommended that all filming on the airport property,
including leaseholds, be charged a film fee. However, since
leaseholds have their own set of costs to the film companies, it
is recommended that the use fees be reduced to $250 per day for
motion filming and $100 per day for still photography.
2. BAYSIDE BUSINESS DISTRICT USE FEES - The Bayside District
Corporation would maintain the same use fee structure as at
present, which includes a range of fees depending on the time and
location of the filming (see attached Exhibit I for details).
Fees collected by the Bayside District are deposited in the
District's account.
3. BEACH USE FEES - New use fees for filming at the Santa Monica
Beach would be established at $500 per day. Still photography
would be assessed a use fee of $100 per day. These fees would be
deposited in the Beach Fund. Presently, all filming fees derived
from beach filming are deposited strictly in the General Fund.
In FY 90-91, the City issued 330 permits for filming on the beach
and in beach parking lots, which is approximately 30 percent of
all the filming that took place in that year. Approximately 100
of these were for motion picture and television filming, 200 for
still photography, and 25 for student films.
The use of Santa Monica beach for filming merits the increased
fees to help offset beach maintenance and improvement costs and
for use of this attractive location. It is of concern that
increasing beach filming fees might result in a decrease in the
number of film permits issued. Film companies might choose nearby
alternative beach locations in order to avoid the City's beach
filming fees, although these fees in other jurisdictions will not
be substantially lower than the proposed fee. For example, L.A.
County charges $630 for the first day and $400 each additional day
to film on the beach. It is believed, nevertheless, that the
number of permits will not decrease due to the desirability of
filming at Santa Monica beach with its surrounding attributes,
i.e., Pier, bluffs, and large parking lots to service the
activity. The number of permits issued through the end of
February, 1992 for FY 91-92 indicates that filming on the beach
will increase approximately 10 percent over FY 90-91. 274 permits
have been issued through February with an anticipated total of
approximately 365 permits issued by the end of the fiscal year
(June 30, 1992).
4. PIER USE FEES - The Pier film use fees would be maintained at
their current levels of $1,000 for motion filming and $250 for
still photography. It is recommended that a new fee of $500 per
day for educational filming/public service announcements and for
storage of equipment only on the Pier be implemented. The Use
fees derived from filming at the Pier are deposited in the Pier
Fund.
5. 415 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY USE FEES - The Use fees would be
established at their current levels. This includes charging from
$2,000 to $3,500 for motion filming and $350 to $2,500 for still
photography. The fees charged depend on the location within the
site being used, the number of rooms being used, the amount of
time for filming and other factors.
ADDITIONAL FEES
1. STUDENT/NON-PROFIT FILMING - In the past, the City has not
charged student and non-profit filmmakers for their permits.
However, processing and monitoring of these film permits often
proves more time-consuming for City staff than motion picture
permits due to the filmmakers' inexperience and lack of knowledge
about the City's filming requirements. Staff therefore recommends
that nonprofit and student film makers be charged a nominal permit
fee of $100 per day.
2. REVISION CHARGES - Scheduling changes are endemic to the film
industry and impact City staff by requiring frequent last minute
revision of permits due to location or calendar changes,
scheduling of police and fire personnel, and other related
activities. Staff recommends that a $50 charge be levied for each
separate permit schedule change regardless of the type of project.
Schedule changes which are requested or caused by the City or
revised due to bad weather would be exempt from this charge.
REVISIONS OF ASSOCIATED FILMING CHARGES
Other proposed fee charges for activities related to filming are
discussed hereafter.
CALL BACK OF CITY PERSONNEL
City personnel other than Police and Fire personnel are sometimes
called back outside of regular work hours to assist in site
management of film locations or enforcement of film permit
requirements. Presently, the existing fee resolution provides
that personnel be charged at $15 per hour in these circumstances.
Obviously, salaries and costs have increased since this fee was
enacted in 1976. It is therefore recommended that film
permit-holders be charged twice the overtime salary for a minimum
of four hours for off-hours assistance by non-sworn personnel.
The City employee who is called back, at the discretion of the
City Manager, appropriate Department Director or Division Manager,
to help manage the film site would be paid their appropriate
overtime rate for a minimum of four hours. The balance of the
payment would be deposited in the City's General Fund to cover
overhead and administrative costs.
NO-PARKING SIGNS
Under the State Vehicle Code, "No Parking" signs must be posted at
film locations which wish to rent on-street or off-street public
parking spaces. These "No Parking" signs must be posted 24 hours
in advance of the filming activity. The filling-in and posting of
"No Parking" signs, which are presently sold at $1.00 per sign,
are the responsibility of the permit holder to obtain, post and
remove. Use of a metered parking space is charged an additional
fee.
To cover the actual cost of printing as well as follow up to the
posting and removal of the signs, staff recommends the City charge
a $3 per sign fee to film permit-holders who rent on-street
parking spaces. This fee would help recover the costs to purchase
of signs, assist in filling in the information on the sign, and
removal of the signs once the authorized period has expired, if
not accomplished by the film company. Revenues received from this
posting fee would be deposited in the General Fund to offset the
City's costs for staff time, supplies and equipment.
VIOLATION OF ALLOWABLE FILMING HOURS
Regular filming hours in residential zones are 8:00 a.m. to 10:00
p.m. and no filming outside these hours are allowed. Violations
of these restrictions do sometimes occur due to support vehicles
arriving prior to 8 a.m. or crews breaking down sets and packing
up vehicles after 10 p.m. Presently, the governing statute
requires that a violator of the provision of no filming activity
after 10 p.m. be required to pay for an additional day of filming,
which is presently $400, and a violation fee of $400, for a total
of $800. Violation of this statute by personnel filming an
educational film is charged an additional day of filming, or $100
and a violation fee of $400, for a total of $500.
It is recommended that the penalty fee for commercial filming be
an additional day of filming as recommended in this report, plus a
violation charge equal to $500. Educational filming would be
charged an extra filming day of $100 and violation fee of $500 for
a total of $600. These fees are justified in that filming after
hours is a disruption to the community and many times requires
enforcement and follow up to complaints by the police and other
city staff.
CALIFORNIA FILM COMMISSION COMMENTS
As part of an agreement with the State, a copy of the draft staff
report was provided to the California Film Commission for their
review and comment. They returned various comments with regard to
the proposed fee revisions and policies, which are summarized as
follows:
1. In general, they were concerned with most, if not all of the
fee increases, including charging for student filming, as well as
asking that the fees be consistent. In response, staff has made
every attempt to include reasonable fees and be consistent with
the proposed filming fees.
2. Additional concerns related to City instituted limitations on
time for allowable filming, as well as concern with the definition
of a filming day being a calendar day rather than a 24 hour
period. In general, Santa Monica's permits are issued based on
calendar days, which is also typically used by many other cities.
Staff's proposals contained in this report were made based on
experience with filming activity. In establishing these policies,
staff attempted to balance the needs of film permit applicants
with the need to protect the community from unacceptable
inconvenience.
3. Several concerns were discussed regarding Bayside District
filming policies and how fees are determined. Again, these
policies have been developed over time based on filming experience
in this area and impact on staff, services and the community.
These fees and policies have been successfully in place for over
two years.
4. The Film Commission sought clarification regarding existing
and proposed policies and fees.
Staff has reviewed the issues based on the Commission's concerns
and has provided the Commission staff with in-depth information on
policy, fee formulation and implementation. Although the Film
Commission preferred that the City not modify its fee structure,
the representatives came to appreciate the need to enhance our
fees and maintain our policies regarding filming. Moreover, staff
was provided information regarding film industry needs. There was
mutual commitment to share relevant information in the future.
FISCAL/BUDGET IMPACT
The proposed fee modifications will result in increased revenues
for the General, Beach, Pier and Airport Funds. The projected
full-year revenue impacts listed on the following page are derived
assuming a July 1, 1992 effective date, and based on the same
number of permitted filming days in FY 90-91:
Revenue Analysis By Fund
(1) (2) (2)-(1)
FY 90-91 With Estimated
Actual Proposed Revenue
Fund Fee Changes Increase (Decrease)
-----------------------------------------------------
General Fund:
Airport $ 2,400 $ 6,000 $ 3,600
Beaches 60,600 48,150 (12,450)*
Parks 21,500 44,000 22,500
Pier 6,250 16,250 10,000
Other 154,162 189,600 35,438
------------------------------------------------------
Total GF 244,912 304,000 59,088
Airport Fund 15,200 18,200 3,000
Beach Fund N/A 70,700 70,700
Pier Fund 54,886 60,000 5,114
--------- --------- ---------
City Total $314,998 $452,900 $137,902
*Offset by significant increase to Beach Fund
Increases will be reflected in the proposed FY 1992-93 revenue totals
for the General, Beach, Pier and Airport Funds.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the film permit fees as
described in the attached resolution.
Prepared by: Stanley Scholl, Director of General Services
Craig Perkins, Admin/Environmental Services Manager
Joan Akins, Sr. Administrative Analyst
Richard Gonzalez, Sr. Administrative Analyst
Attachments
Table I No. of Permits and Revenues - FY 90-91
Table II Film Fees Comparison
Table III Current and Proposed Film Fees
Exhibit I Bayside District Corporation Filming Fees
Resolution
TABLE I
NO. OF PERMITS AND REVENUES
FY 90 - 91
LOCATION/ NO. TOTAL GENERAL OTHER
FILMING OF DAILY FUND FUND
TYPE PERMITS FEES
----------------------------------------------------------
CITY PROPERTY
TV/Movie 259 $400 $103,600
Stills 131 100 13,100
Non-profit 2 0 0
Student 40 0 0
TOTAL 432 $116,700
AIRPORT
TV/Movie 20 100 2,000
20 600 12,000
Stills 8 50 400
8 400 3,200
Non-profit 1 0 0 0
Student 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 26 $2,400 $15,200
BEACHES
TV/Movie 101 400 40,400
Stills 202 100 20,200
Non-profit 2 0 0
Student 25 0 0
TOTAL 330 $60,600
PARKS
TV/Movie 34 400 13,600
Stills 79 100 7,900
Non-profit 3 0 0
Student 24 0 0
TOTAL 140 $21,500
LOCATION/ NO. TOTAL GENERAL OTHER
FILMING OF DAILY FUND FUND
TYPE PERMITS FEES
----------------------------------------------------------
PIER
TV/Movie 37 100 3,700
37 1,000 37,000
Stills 51 50 2,550
51 250 12,750
Non-profit 4 0 0 0
Student 15 0 0 0
TOTAL 107 $6,250 $49,750
3RD STREET PROMENADE
TV/Movie 69 400 27,600
Stills 10 100 1,000
Non-profit 3 0 0
Student 4 0 0
TOTAL 86 $28,600
FEE SUBTOTAL $236,050 $64,950
MISC. CHARGES/PENALTY FEES 8,862 5,136
TOTAL 1,121 $244,912 $70,086
TOTAL REVENUE $314,998
TABLE II
FILM FEES COMPARISON
FOR
MOTION FILMING
Application Permit Total Fees For Special Locations*
Fee Fee
(per shoot) (daily) Beach City Park Airport
Hall
HERMOSA $314 $733 $1047 $1047 $1047 n/a
BEACH
MANHATTAN 50 1500 800 1550 1550 n/a
BEACH
REDONDO 1000** 342 1342 1342 1342 n/a
BEACH
BEVERLY none 855 n/a 2150 2150 n/a
HILLS
BURBANK 100 0 n/a 100 100 300-1200
(min)
CULVER 45 330 n/a 375 375 n/a
CITY
GLENDALE 150 400 n/a 550 550 + n/a
10/hr
LOS ANGELES 160 300 460 460 460 $50 +
(City) 30/hr
LOS ANGELES 230 400 630 630 630 n/a
(County)
PASADENA none 612 n/a 612 + 612 n/a
100/hr
SANTA MONICA none 400 400 400 400 600
(Existing)
SANTA MONICA none 500 750 1500 ext 750 1000
(Proposed) 2500 int
*For first filming day. Costs may decrease with additional days of
filming
** This is a one-time registration fee per filmmaker
TABLE III
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CURRENT AND PROPOSED DAILY FILM FEES
Current Fees Proposed Fees
*Permit Use Total *Permit Use Total
Fee Fee Fees Fee Fee Fees
AIRPORT Motion $100 $600 $700 $250 $750 $1000
Still 50 400 450 100 400 500
Leasehold Property
Motion 100 0 100 250 250 500
Still 50 0 50 100 100 200
BAYSIDE Motion 400 Varies Varies 250 Varies Varies
DISTRICT Still 100 " " 100 " "
BEACHES Motion 400 - 400 250 500 750
Still 100 - 100 100 100 200
CITY Exterior
HALL Motion - - - 1500 - 1500
Still - - - 500 - 500
Interior
Motion - - - 2500 - 2500
Still - - - 1000 - 1000
PARKS Motion 400 - 400 750 - 750
Still 100 - 100 200 - 200
PIER Motion 100 1000 1100 250 1000 1250
Still 50 250 300 100 250 350
415 PCH Motion 100 Varies Varies 250 Varies Varies
Still 50 " " 100 " "
STUDENT/ Mot./Still 0 0 0 100 - 100
NON-PROFIT/ " 0 0 0 100 - 100
EDUCATIONAL " 100 0 0 100 _ 100
ALL Motion 400 - 400 500 - 500
OTHER Still 100 - 100 200 - 200
LOCATIONS
*Permit Fees are deposited in General Fund
**Requires special coordination
Resolution Number ________
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
PERTAINING TO PICTURES FOR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. PICTURES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
A. The Department of General Services shall issue all permits for
the use of any City property for commercial filming. Commercial
filming shall be defined as motion picture and television productions
of any type whatsoever including serials, videos, commercial
advertisements, off-news productions and shall also apply to still
photography for the same purposes. Student, educational and non-profit
filming shall also be governed by this Resolution. No commercial
filming shall be accomplished without first obtaining the appropriate
permits and approvals as defined herein.
B. Applications for such permits shall be made upon forms
provided by the Department of General Services. Such permits shall
specify the location to be used, the dates(s) and time(s) for which
such permit is desired and shall set
forth such special conditions regarding the use of such permits as the
Director of General Services (or his/her designate) shall, in his/her
discretion, determine.
Such permits shall also set forth the fee or charge which is to be paid
to the City at the time the permit is issued.
Each permit shall specify that no reference shall be made by dialogue
or picture to the Santa Monica Police Department, its officers or
personnel, or to the City of Santa Monica, except as persons familiar
with the community might recognize the locale.
SECTION 2. FEES AND ASSOCIATED CHARGES
A. FEES
Fees to be charged for the issuance of a film permit for each calendar
day or portion thereof are hereby established as follows:
PERMIT USE TOTAL
FEE FEE FEE
AIRPORT Motion $250 $750 $1000
Still 100 400 $ 500
LEASEHOLD PROPERTY
Motion 250 250 $ 500
Still 100 100 $ 200
BAYSIDE Motion
DISTRICT Interior Only 250 250 $500
(Includes each setup or teardown day)
Interior 250 500 $750
(With exterior requirements)
Exterior 250 750 $1000
(Half-day shoots on the Promenade,
up to 6 hours, including teardown)
Exterior 250 1500 $1750
(Promenade and District street filming,
allows multiple location filming)
Still
Interior 100 250 $350
Exterior 100 500 $600
Student, Non-profit, Educational
Interior 100 250 $350
Exterior 100 750 $850
BEACHES Motion 250 500 $750
Still 100 100 $200
PERMIT USE TOTAL
FEE FEE FEE
CITY HALL Exterior
Motion* 1500 0 $1500
Still** 500 0 $ 500
Interior
Motion* 2500 0 $2500
Still** 1000 0 $1000
*Also requires $25,000 security deposit
**Also requires $1,000 security deposit
PARKS Motion 750 0 $ 750
Still 200 0 $ 200
PIER/ Motion 250 1000 $1250
CAROUSEL Still 100 250 $ 350
Educational/Public Service Announcements
Motion 100 500 $ 600
Equipment 250 500 $ 750
Only
415 PACIFIC Motion 250 2000 - 3500*
COAST HWY Still 100 350 - 2500*
*Use fee will be determined by the location
coordinator, which will depend on the
location, amount of rooms used, time and
other fators.
STUDENT/ Motion & 100 0 $ 100
NON-PROFIT/ Still
EDUCATIONAL
ALL Motion 500 0 $ 500
OTHER Still 200 0 $ 200
LOCATIONS
SCHEDULE $50 for each scheduled day change
CHANGES requested by the permittee
B. ASSOCIATED CHARGES
1. Charges for After Hours Use of Non-Sworn City Personnel
The use of any location or area which occasions special difficulty or
expense to the City, thereby requiring the use of non-sworn City
personnel (i.e., other than police and fire personnel) in any capacity
in connection with such commercial filming or photography, and for the
use of City personnel for general assistance, supervision, or other
purposes for such filming or photography outside of regular work hours,
a per hour charge of two times the overtime salary for each employee
for a minimum of four hours, shall be made against and payable by the
permittee to the City.
2. Penalty Fees
In the event that a permittee or other person violates the provisions
of Section 3 relating to allowable hours of filming activity, said
activity will be immediately stopped and penalty fees shall be charged
as follows:
An additional charge for an additional
day of commercial filming as noted in
Section 2, Fees
Penalty fee for commercial motion $500
picture and television filming
Penalty fee for commercial still photography $200
Penalty fee for educational filming, student $100
filming or filming by a non-profit organization
Section 3. SPECIAL PROVISIONS
A. The following are special provisions for filming within
certain areas in the City:
1. Airport
No aircraft shall be brought to Santa Monica Airport for commercial
filming purposes unless it complies with the 95 decibel maximum noise
limit established by the Santa Monica City Council. Any aircraft used
for this purpose must be approved by the Airport Director.
2. City Hall
Interior shooting shall only be allowed on non-workdays or after 6 p.m.
on workdays upon approval by the City Manager.
3. Commercial Areas
No filming shall be allowed in commercial areas from the day before
Thanksgiving to January 2. In addition, if there is any residence
located within 250 feet of the proposed filming site, filming may only
take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
4. Residential Areas
Filming in any residential neighborhood of the City shall only be
allowed between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
B. INSURANCE
Each permit shall contain a statement that the permittee holds the City
harmless from any and all liability for personal injury and property
damage arising out of the use of the permit and the use of City
property and facilities. In addition, as a condition of the issuance
of a permit, the permittee shall first provide public liability
insurance naming the City of Santa Monica, its City Council, boards and
commissions, officers, agents, servants and employees as co-insures, in
amounts of not less than a combined single-limit policy with aggregate
limits as determined by the City's Risk Management Division and
required by that office in the amount not less than $1,000,000. Such
certificate of insurance shall be furnished to the Director of General
Services or his/her designate and shall further contain a provision
that notice in writing is to be provided to the Director of General
Services or his/her designate within thirty (30) days prior to
cancellation of such policy.
C. DENIAL OF PERMIT
The Director of General Services or his/her designate, upon application
for a permit, shall review the same, and may seek the advice of such
other City departments as may be affected by the requested filming or
photography activities prior to issuance of such a permit. If the
Director or his/her designate finds that the issuance of such a permit
would constitute a hazard to the welfare of the community or its
citizens, pose a threat to public safety, endanger lives or property,
or unreasonably disrupt, impede or block any public street, sidewalk or
right of way, he or she may refuse to issue the permit applied for.
D. STUDENTS AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Students shall supply a written certificate from the school of their
attendance which shall state that they are bona-fide and currently
enrolled students of such school. Nonprofit organizations shall supply
a certificate stating that they are exempt and classified as nonprofit
under federal and state taxing statutes.
E. EDUCATIONAL FILMS
For the purposes of this Resolution, an educational film shall be one
which provides instruction, especially for students, ultimately limited
to classroom use, and a film for which no admission charges will be
made. The Director of General Services or his/her designate shall have
discretion hereunder to determine, pursuant to this subsection, whether
the object of a permit application is for commercial or for educational
filming.
F. The provision of this resolution shall not apply to the Santa
Monica Civic Auditorium, and fees for the use thereof shall otherwise
be set.
SECTION 4. CERTIFICATION
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