Council wants staff to 'reshoot' the city's filming ordinance

Changes to one of the most restrictive film permit laws in California have been scrutinized by the Thousand Oaks City Council and sent back to city staff for more revisions.

Currently, there must be 100 percent approval by those within a 500foot radius of a film location. The application for a permit must be reviewed by police and possibly other city departments, depending on the filming plans. A fee of $145 a day is charged.

Critics of the ordinance, established in 1997, have said it's too strict. Others argue that the permit protects the quality of life along with property, peace and tranquility of the city.

The council struggled with creating an ordinance that limits First Amendment rights while being flexible and neighborfriendly. City staff recommended - - but the council rejected- - a law requiring 80 percent approval by those within a 300-foot radius of a film location.

In rejecting the proposal, Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña said she'd "be pretty miffed" if the ordinance was changed and, after she'd said no to having a film crew right next door to her house, neighbors who lived farther away overruled her.

Currently, community development director John Prescott said, those who hold out and don't agree to filming in the city are those closest to the filming location.

Without giving those farther away veto rights over those who live close by, there would be no need to change the ordinance from the 100 percent approval requirement.

The city's filming restrictions include still photography.

Councilmember Jacqui Irwin joined Bill-de la Peña's call for common sense and asked if wedding photographers—in particular, one person with one car, working inside a home—were excluded from the permit process.

City attorney Amy Albano explained that a wedding photographer wasn't excluded from the city's ordinance and would at this time require the 100 percent approval by those within a 500-foot-radius.

The council agreed 4-0 at the June 23 meeting to direct staff to return to the City Council with a revised ordinance modifying the city's film permit standards to require the written consent of 90 percent of occupants within 200 feet. Staff will also refine the rules regulating still photography.

During the discussion, Irwin asked why a specific distance was being considered as an appropriate area for film permit permission by asking, "What is 200 feet?"

Fox, who proposed the ordinance change as a compromise with Bill-de la Peña, responded, "One hundred feet less than 300 feet."

At a previous City Council meeting longtime Councilmember Dennis Gillette spoke about what gave rise to the restrictive 1997 ordinance—the destruction film crews once caused the city. Gillette wasn't present at the June 23 meeting.