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Manhattan Beach approves one‑year FilmLA pilot to coordinate on‑location filming
Summary
Council approved a one‑year agreement with FilmLA to coordinate film permits, notifications, and on‑location monitoring with neighborhood protections and updated fee proposals; the motion passed 5–0.
The council approved a one‑year pilot agreement with FilmLA to coordinate and process on‑location filming permits for Manhattan Beach, and approved updated permit fee recommendations.
Donna Washington, vice president of operations and external affairs at FilmLA, described FilmLA’s notification practices (500‑foot notification radius and door hangers with contact information), 24/7 on‑call services, community outreach and on‑location monitoring for sensitive sites, and a production‑planning tool that integrates city layers like street sweeping and refuse pickup. Washington said FilmLA’s standardized approach is intended to protect community character while simplifying the permit process for production companies.
Council members asked about time‑of‑day restrictions and procedures for extending hours; FilmLA described a community survey process (knock‑and‑talk forms in a defined radius) and said extended hours are approved only with demonstrable neighborhood support. Staff noted that the city retains final review and approval authority for all permits and can condition or deny requests that present an unreasonable public‑safety burden.
Council voted 5–0 to proceed with the FilmLA agreement and to bring back a resolution to memorialize the updated fee schedule.
What happens next: staff will return with a resolution to memorialize the fees and the one‑year pilot will proceed with FilmLA providing permit coordination and community outreach services.
