Recommendation to request City Manager to return to City Council within 90 days a report on the status of filming in Long Beach, a review of the incentives we provide and a proposal to stimulate further interest from film companies to locate their productions within the City of Long Beach.
Item 13 is communication from the Office of Council Vice Mayor Robert Garcia, Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell and Councilmember Al Austin with the recommendation to require the city manager to return within 90 days and report on the status of filming in Long Beach. A review of the incentives we provide and a proposal is to stimulate further interest from the film companies to locate their productions in within the city of Long Beach. Thank you. Mr. Cutouts makes some brief comments and we've had a lot of conversations are here I think get the city at the council level about filming and production here in Long Beach have had some interesting conversations over the last few weeks with members of the industry. And certainly there's concern, I think, not just statewide but across the country. As far as what filming is looking like in the direction of our filming here, I know that the state led committee has been doing some really good work on this issue and moving forward some legislation as well. And so essentially what this would do is this would bring back Mr.. Mr. West, hopefully sooner rather than later. You can do a presentation to the Council about the changes. I know we've made some staff adjustments in filming and in that area. I think it'd be great for the Council to know what those are, kind of who they make contact people are. Now we've created, I know some new roles. I think it'd be good to review those as well as review exactly what the incentives that we provide here in the city. Certainly we do some really great filming at the city. We also want to make sure that part of that is respecting the neighborhoods where they're filmed then and then if we could also look at what what other cities are doing out of the L.A. is kind of rolling out some new incentives in this area. And so I think it'd be great to review all that and maybe get a get a presentation from the from from all of you on that. So that's the motion on the floor. I'll turn this over now to and I'll make that motion and I'll turn this over now to Councilmember O'Donnell. Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. And I do want to comment first and start off, you know, by saying, as I understand it, language is very proactive with regard to supporting the film industry. And remember, this is not just about Long Beach. This is about supporting our regional film production, how we want to label television sets, whatever you however you want to say it. Our you know, our big employers don't think of the actor in front of the camera and think of the set. Think of all the people supporting that set, whether it's the the truck driver that delivers the equipment, you know, the food support and, you know, someone holding the grip above the the actors. There's a lot of people that work on a set. If you live in Long Beach, you know that because there happens to be traditionally at least a lot of filming in Long Beach. And again, that's because we've been very proactive. So this is our effort to partner be a partner to our region to support the film production industry. And as you mentioned, Mr. Garcia, we're also adding as part of our state ledger to be as supportive and proactive at the state level, the Sacramento level, to support the film industry staying in California, because there are 42 states, 42 nations that are offering film credits and other ways to take our film production and put it in their community and put people to work in quality jobs. And we want to keep them here. This is our effort to keep the film production industry present in Long Beach and across our region. Thank you. Counts. Membership Scheme. I just hope, though, that the public understands that. I think Mr. O'Donnell just said this. We had a conversation on this council. I don't know if you were here, Mr. Garcia, when we did this, but L'image is the cheapest date in the state when it comes to filming. We ask for a review of the permit fees. We were one of the lowest. Our special events department has gone to extraordinary lengths to work with the movie industry. One of the difficulties we had when the Boeing property was being used for filming is that many of the movie studios that use that site would bring in outside catering. Not in Palm Beach. So we've you know, we're we've got to make sure that we're when we do things, we're not giving ourselves away too cheaply. So I would hope that our our permit fees can be competitive. But at the same time, I just don't want to leave the impression with the public that this isn't something that the city staff hasn't been working on. They have extensively. And that is why we've had Dexter and CSI Miami and a number of films that it's done here in Long Beach, because we've been very accommodating, particularly our police and fire department as well. And I think that that has brought some extra revenue because those are chargeable hours. So I think certainly a review of what we've done would be very helpful to figure out where we need to go. All right. Thank you, Councilmember Landers. Yes, thank you, Vice Mayor. You know, first of all, I like to think that I should be in a special event staff. They're doing an amazing job in our city. And I know that the cities across the state and country is seeking ways to enhance their FEMA numbers. And I appreciate your team hard work in getting them permit increase since last year. You know, as per this report, I think this will provide us with some useful information. And I would also like to stress that there's a very important to keep the balance of the family company coming in and in the needs of our constituents , especially in the downtown area where a lot of films are taking place. Thank you very much, Councilmember Andrews. We have a motion on the floor. Any public comment on the item? Mr. Dunn. Thank you. A picture is worth a thousand words, and particularly film folk. Auditions are the celluloid world, you know, impressed by film. I would recommend, if you haven't already done it, already commissioned a half an hour film to be made about the incentives along each say encapsulate in the cheapest to state the cheapest. As far as film goes, as far as things offered. Interview with the directors in a film here would provide incentive. You know, even go a step further. It might strike some as humorous, but it is true. Sometimes the likes are caused by stomach use. And what I'm trying to say is it it might sway assuage your appetites if doing one of these film commission movies they may be served salmon and chopped and champagne. There is the royal treatment and and the regal touch my this I think that when you might find it appealing and just at the point of gossip apparently is it Isidora won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar on the basis of what the critics say. Her husband provided them with salmon and champagne. Champagne, and that, likely said, influenced greatly her ascendancy with an Oscar Golden Globe Award. It does happen, but I do think that a movie, if it is not really made a movie, should be made to appeal to appeal to movie folk. Thank you. See no other public comment. There is a a motion on the item members to go out and cast your votes. Motion carries nine votes. Yes. Thank you. Back to the regular agenda item 11 a.m.. Item 11 is a communication from the Office of Vice Mayor Robert Garcia with a recommendation to approve the use of First Council District f y fiscal year 12 surplus funds for neighborhood service projects in the amount of $15,144.