Flagstaff aims to be 'film‑ready' while limiting city disruption and recouping costs
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Summary
The city’s part‑time film program reported nine city permits in FY25 and outlined a new practice of waiving insurance for very small crews consistent with the Federal Explorer Act; council asked staff to return with clear rules for permitted locations, fee options to recover city staffing costs and coordination with Parks and Northern Arizona University.
Flagstaff’s film commissioner outlined how the city currently handles location requests and described steps to make Flagstaff easier to work in for small‑crew shoots while protecting city assets.
Film Commissioner Ryan Randazzo said the city issued nine city permits in fiscal 2025 and tracked roughly 33 additional projects that filmed on private or non‑city property. He described a $71,000 film‑marketing budget used to attract production scouts and noted that Phoenix, as a comparator, issues many more permits and routinely bills productions for city staff and services.
Randazzo and risk manager Aaron Kaminski described recent implementation of the Federal Explorer Act’s guidance for small crews on federal lands and said the city will now waive insurance requirements for minimal‑impact shoots in comparable circumstances to encourage more small projects. Kaminski said standard city insurance expectations remain for larger or higher‑impact shoots — typically $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate to protect city assets and ensure cost recovery for damage or extra staffing.
Council members supported clearer policy guidance and asked staff to prepare a concise permitting framework that spells out which public assets (parks, Buffalo Park, city facilities) will or won’t be available for filming, what fee/donation model will be used to recoup police or park staff time, and how to coordinate permitting with NAU and other campus owners that control their own property.
Staff compared practices in peer cities (Phoenix, Albuquerque, Page, Bozeman and Park City) and recommended a targeted approach: streamlined allowances for small, low‑impact shoots to attract advertising and tourism benefit, and a predictable fee/permit structure for larger productions so the city does not incur uncompensated staffing or facilities costs.
Council generally signaled support for encouraging film activity and asked staff to return with draft permit language, a proposed fee schedule and coordination plans with Parks and NAU.
