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CC - Adoption of Resolution Extending Suspension of the Collection of Business Tax for Itinerant Motion Picture/Television Producers for an Additional 10 Years.
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Contact Person/Dept: Jeff Muir/Finance
Phone Number: (310) 253-5865
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/07/15), (E-Mail) Culver City Chamber of Commerce (10/07/15), (E-Mail) Sony Corporation (10/07/15), (E-Mail) Culver Studios (10/07/15), (E-Mail) GMT Studios (10/07/15), (E-Mail) Motion Picture Association of America (10/07/15).
Department Approval: Jeff Muir, Chief Financial Officer (10/06/15)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the proposed resolution to extend the suspension of the collection of business tax on itinerant motion picture/television producers for an additional 10 years.
BACKGROUND
On February 7, 2011, the City Council adopted a resolution instituting a five-year suspension of the collection of business tax on itinerant motion picture/television producers (not having a fixed business location in Culver City). The suspension is set to expire in February 2016 without further City Council action. The purpose of the suspension was to establish the importance of the film and production industry in Culver City’s local economy and to allow the City Council to discuss possibilities for a business tax structure that would be more favorable to production companies and would also spur more activity at our local studios, thereby stimulating our local economy.
DISCUSSION
At its regular meeting of September 28, 2015, the City Council considered this matter. After discussions with staff and input from the public, the City Council reached consensus to extend the suspension for an additional period of 10 years. The proposed Resolution would extend the expiration of the current suspension from February 8, 2016 to February 8, 2026. The suspension can be further extended or rescinded at any time by future City Council action.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Extension of the suspension of business tax for itinerant motion picture/television producers would result in loss of business taxes, though not significant. Alternatively, higher utilization of media production facilities would lead to modest additional business taxes, and more local spending could also provide additional stimulus to our local economy. To quantify these factors is extremely difficult and would rely upon voluntary reporting of information from local media production facilities.
ATTACHMENTS
Proposed Resolution.
RECOMMENDED MOTIONS
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution extending the suspension of the collection of business tax for itinerant motion picture/television producers for an additional 10 years (to February 8, 2026).