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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2021-229 - Authorization to Sign Film Location Agreements REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole DATE OF MEETING: November 22, 2021 SUBMITTED BY: Emily Robson, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries, 519-741-2200 ext. PREPARED BY: Bob Egan, Film, Music & Interactive Media Officer 519-741-2200 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards DATE OF REPORT: November 18, 2021 REPORT NO.: DSD-2021-229 SUBJECT: Authorization to Sign Film Location Agreements RECOMMENDATION: That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute film location agreements and waivers, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, where film and production companies require the City to sign their own form of agreement, as described in report DSD-2021- 229. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: The purpose of this report is to seek authorization for the Mayor and Clerk to sign film location agreements and waivers. The key finding of this report is that certain film production companies require the City (as the owner of the land/building with which they are undertaking film shoots) to sign . The financial implication is the potential for future revenue associated with film production work on City-owned lands and buildings. Community engagement included posting of this report agenda in advance of the council meeting. This report supports the delivery of core services. BACKGROUND: It is an industry standard for a production company to enter into an agreement with the land/building owner to which they are filming. This agreement includes, for example, permission to depict the premises in their production, ownership of all footage and photography captured, requirements to repair any damage occurred during filming, etc. In 2001, Council provided authorization - certain production companies require the land/building owner to sign their own version of said agreements. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. REPORT: The City of Kitchener continues to support film production throughout our community. While filming typically occurs on private-property, filming can occur on municipal rights-of-way and/or in municipal parks and buildings. Any film production shoot happening on municipal lands is reviewed by all applicable City service areas. For example, filming on roadways are reviewed by Transportation Planning, filming in parks are reviewed by Parks and Cemeteries, etc. It is standard industry practice for the production company to enter into an agreement with the land/building owner which include any requirements during production as well as ownership rights/waivers to utilize any footage captured. While the City has a standard agreement, certain production companies require the land/building owner to utilize their own standard agreement. In order to enter into an agreement developed by the production company, City Council needs to provide authorization for the City to sign said agreements. Any agreements , prior to authorization by the Mayor and Clerk. In many occasions, film production companies require agreements to be signed in an expeditious manner or the City could risk the production company selecting an alternate community. To require every agreement to come before Council could significantly Authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to sign such agreements, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, would provide more efficient customer service. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: This report supports the delivery of core services. As part of Make It Kitchener 2.0, the City has committed to supporting the growth of Creative Industries in our community. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are no costs to authorize agreements beyond staff time. Failure to authorize an agreement in a timely fashion could result in loss of revenue from the fees that can be collected for film production on municipal lands. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM the council / committee meeting. COLLABORATE City staff continue to work closely with the film production industry in Ontario expectations. PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter. APPROVED BY: Must be the CAO or a General Manager ATTACHMENTS: None