RPVCCA_CC_SR_2012_05_15_H_Ord_536_Film_Permit_ExemptionsCrrvOF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REVIEWED:
HONORABLE MAYOR &CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
CAROLYNN PETR~CP,DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
AND INTERIM DIRECTOR OF RECREATION &PARKS
MAY 15,2012
ORDINANCE PROVIDING A FILM PERMIT EXEMPTION
FOR GROUP COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND
VIDEOGRAPHY ON CITY PROPERTY (Supports 2012
City Council Goal "Support of Local ~usinesses")
CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER Q)L-
Project Manager:Kit Fox,AICP,Senior Administrative Analyst~
RECOMMENDATION
Reintroduce Ordinance No.536,an ordinance of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
providing an exemption from the City's film permit requirement for group photography and
videography on City property,and amending the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code.
DISCUSSION
On May 1,2012,the City Council considered a proposed ordinance to amend Chapter 9.16
(Still Photography,Motion Picture and Television Productions)ofthe Rancho Palos Verdes
Municipal Code (RPVMC)to provide a limited exemption from the City's film permit
requirement.At that meeting,the City Council discussed the proposed ordinance and
agreed to introduce it with the following changes:
•The proposed limitation on group size was eliminated;and,
•The maximum allowable length of an exempt photo or video shoot on City property
was increased to forty-five (45)minutes.
Although these changes were read into the record of the meeting on May 1,2012,by the City
Attorney,Staff later saw that it was also necessary to revise some of the recitations (Le.,the
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MEMORANDUM:Group Film Permit Exemption on City Property
May 15,2012
Page 2
third and fourth "WHEREAS"paragraphs)in the ordinance be consistent with the language
changes approved by the City Council.In addition,since the proposed limitation on group size
has been eliminated,Staff recommends changing the title of the ordinance to eliminate the
reference to "small"groups.Based upon the totality of these changes,the City Attorney
recommended that the draft ordinance be reintroduced at tonight's meeting.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion,Staff recommends that the City Council reintroduce Ordinance No.536,an
ordinance of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes providing an exemption from the City's film
permit requirement for group photography and videography on City property,and amending
the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code.
Attachments:
•Revised Draft Ordinance No.536
•Comparison of Draft (May 1st
)and Revised Draft (May 15th )Ordinance No.536
M:\Film Permits\Small Group Film Permit Exemption Ordinance\20120515_RevRPVMC916_StaffRpt.doc
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ORDINANCE NO.536
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PROVIDING A FILM PERMIT EXEMPTION FOR GROUP COMMERCIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY ON CITY PROPERTY,AND
AMENDING THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS,Section 9.16.020 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code
(RPVMC)states that "[no]person shall use any public or private property,facility or
residence for the purpose of producing,taking or making any motion picture or
television production or engaging in still commercial photography without a permit
issued pursuant to the provisions of [Chapter 9.16]";and,
WHEREAS,"still commercial photography"is defined in RPVMC Section
9.16.010 as "all activity attendant to staging or shooting commercial still photographs,"
which the City has also consistently interpreted as extending to commercial videography
as well;and,
WHEREAS,certain City parks have become very popular with commercial still
photographers and videographers as settings for wedding parties and similar groups,
who often do not obtain a City film permit in advance;and,
WHEREAS,the City Council acknowledges that,although some of these groups
could monopolize City facilities to the detriment of general park users and place a
disproportionate and uncompensated burden on the City,the City's current film permit
process and fees may be burdensome for commercial still photography and
videography for such groups,which could have fewer adverse impacts upon the City's
parks if the amount of time that they are allowed to take photographs or videos in City
parks without a film permit is limited;and,
WHEREAS,the City Council further believes that it would be appropriate to allow
groups or individuals renting City facilities under the terms of an approved rental
agreement to employ commercial still photographers and/or videographers as a part of
their events without the issuance of a separate film permit by the City;and,
WHEREAS,it is in the best interest of the safety,health and general welfare for
the City to continue to regulate and permit filming activity in the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes as an important local and regional economic activity.
NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1:Section 9.16.030 of Chapter 9.16 of Titie 9 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows (additions underlined):
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9.16.030 Permit Exemptions
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:
A.Current news includes reporters,photographers or cameramen in the employ of
a newspaper,news service,broadcasting station or similar entity engaged in the
broadcasting of news events.
B.Charitable purposes includes productions which are conducted or carried on
wholly for a charitable purpose or from which no profit is derived,either directly or
indirectly;provided,however,that such charitable production shall be exempt
only from the provisions of Section 9.16.050.
C.Commercial still photograph v and videography on City-owned property for groups
of individuals,where no props are being used in the photographs and/or videos,
and where the photographs and/or videos are for the private and non-commercial
use of the person(s)being photographed and/or recorded:provided that all City
regulations and policies for the use of the City property are observed at all times:
and provided that no group may utilize the property for photographic and/or
videographic purposes for more than forty-five (45)minutes within a 24-hour
period.
D.Commercial still photography and videography on City-owned property for groups
and/or individuals when occurring in conjunction with the authorized use or rental
of the City-owned property for an event.pursuant to an approved rental
agreement with the City,provided that all City regulations and policies for the use
of the property are observed at all times.
Section 2:The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance,and
shall cause the same to be posted in the manner prescribed by law.
Ordinance No.536
Page 2 of3
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PASSED,APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS _TH DAY OF 2012.
MAYOR
ATIEST:
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
)
)
)
ss
I,CARLA MORREALE,City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,do hereby
certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five;that the
foregoing Ordinance No.536 passed first reading on ,2012,was duly and
regularly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on
_____,2012,and that the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY CLERK
M:IFilm PermitslSmali Group Film Permit Exemption OrdinanceI20120515_RevRPVMC916_DraftOrd (REVISED).doc
Ordinance No.536
Page 3 of 3
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I,ORDINANCE NO.536
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PROVIDING A FILM PERMIT EXEMPTION FOR,GROUP COMMERCIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY ON CITY PROPERTY,AND
AMENDING THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE
I Deleted:~
I Deleted:SMALL
WHEREAS,Section 9.16.020 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code
(RPVMC)states that "[no]person shall use any pUblic or private property,facility or
residence for the purpose of producing,taking or making any motion picture or
television production or engaging in still commercial photography without a permit
issued pursuant to the provisions of [Chapter 9.16]";and,
WHEREAS,"still commercial photography"is defined in RPVMC Section
9.16.010 as "all activity attendant to staging or shooting commercial still photographs,"
which the City has also consistently interpreted as extending to commercial videography
as well;and,
WHEREAS,certain City parks have become very popular with commercial still
photographers and videographers as settings for wedding parties and similar ,groups,
who often do not obtaifl ~c:;ity Jilf!1.p'errn.it Ln.Clc!'!a.n.c.e·and . .
WHEREAS.the City Council acknowledges that,although ,some of these ,groups
could monopolize,City facilities to the detriment of general park users and place a
disproportionate,and uncompensated burden on Jhe City~the City's current film permit
process and fees may be burdensome for commercial still photography and',
videography for such.groups,which could have fewer ,adverse impacts upon the City's "
parks if the amount of time that they are allowed to take photographs or videos in City \
parks without a film permit is limited:and,",
WHEREAS,the City Council further believes that it would be appropriate to allow
groups or individuals renting City facilities under the terms of an approved rental
agreement to employ commercial still photographers and/or videographers as a part of
their events without the issuance of a separate film permit by the City;and,
WHEREAS,it is in the best interest of the safety,health and general welfare for
the City to continue to regulate and permit filming activity in the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes as an important local and regional economic activity.
NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1:Section 9.16.030 of Chapter 9.16 of Title 9 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows (additions underlined):
Deleted:large
Deleted:without having obtained
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Deleted:,thereby resulting in
Deleted:large
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Deleted:monopolizing
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Deleted:placing an undue
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Deleted:Recreation and Parks Staff
.nd
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~
WHEREAS.the City Council
acknowledges that
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Deleted:are far less likely to
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Deleted:are caused by larger.non-
permitted groups
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9.16.030 Permit Exemptions
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:
A.
B.
D.
Current news includes reporters,photographers or cameramen in the employ of
a newspaper,news service,broadcasting station or similar entity engaged in the
broadcasting of news events.
Charitable purposes includes productions which are conducted or carried on
Wholly for a charitable purpose or from which no profit is derived,either directly or
indirectly;provided,however,that such charitable production shall be exempt
only from the provisions of Section 9.16.050.
Commercial still photography and videography on City-owned property for .groups
of individuals.JNhere no props are being used in the photographs and/or videos.
and where the photographs and/or videos are for the private and non-commerCial·
use of the person(s)being photographed and/or recorded:provided that all City
regulations and policies for the use of the City property are observed at all times:
and provided that no .group may utilize the property for photographic and/or
videooraphic purposes for mare than forty-five (45)minutes within a 24-hour
period.
Commercial still photography and videography an City-owned property for groups
and/or individuals when occurring in conjunction with the authorized use or rental
of the City-owned property for an event.pursuant to an approved rental
agreement with the City.provided that all City regulations and policies for the use
of the property are observed at all times.
Deleted:small
Deleted:not /0 exceed a total of five
(51 persons in the group that is being
photographed and/or recorded
Deleted:during the use of the-Deleted:small
Deleted:a period of
Deleted:one-half fl?!hour
Section 2:The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance,and
shall cause the same to be posted in the manner prescribed by law.
Ordinance No.~
Page 2 of 3
[Deleted:
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PASSED,APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS _TH DAY OF 2012.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
ss
I,CARLA MORREALE,City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,do hereby
certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five;that the
foregoing Ordinance No.~passed first reading on ,2012,was duly and
regularly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on
_,---'2012,and that the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY CLERK
M:\Film Permits\Small Group Film Permit Exemption Qrdinance\20120515..RevRPVMC916_DraftOrd (REVISEDl.doc
Ordinance No.536.
Page 3 of 3
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