3A Public Hearing 2011 0502 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Adjustment to Fees, Service Charges, ancl Taxes 2 May 2, 2011 3. Film permit and business license addition to Title 2, Chapter 4 of the San Leandro Administrative Code Section 2 -4 -900. Attached to this report is the City of San Leandro Fee Schedule that provides detail of current fees and proposed adjustments to those existing fees, as well as the additions of new fee proposals from the Community Development, Police, Public Works and Recreation departments. The proposed charges and new fees are in the right hand column and are printed in bold and italics. Film Permits and Business Licenses In 2006, the City implemented regulations requiring professional filming companies to obtain a film permit and pay associated fees in order to film in the city. News gathering projects are exempt, and bona fide student projects require a permit but fees are waived. Part of the film permit process requires filming companies to obtain a City business license. However, staff has found that the expense of a business license can be a deterrent to small filming projects on limited budgets, resulting in a loss of' filming projects to other communities. Staff conducted an informal survey of surrounding communities and found that most of the other cities in Alameda County do not require small film companies with short projects to obtain a business license, and give staff the discretion to determine whether one should be required for larger projects. Staff is recommending Section 2 -4 -900 be added to Title 2, Chapter 4 of the San Leandro Administrative Code to read as follows: 2 -4 -900 BUSINESS LICENSE EXEMPTIONS A business license shall not be required for filming projects lasting three days or less and involving a total of three or fewer cast and crew members. The Finance Director shall have the discretion to require a business license for any project scheduled to last more than three days and involving more than three cast and crew members. Any project required to have a business license shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Title 2, Chapter 2 of the San Leandro Municipal Code relating to Business Licenses. Staff receives an average of six to eight inquiries per year regarding filming projects in San Leandro, but only one or two actually ever come to fruition. Therefore, this Administrative Code change will have no measurable fiscal impact on the City. The Community Relations Representative manages all film permits as the City's Film Liaison.