HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 11-04-2025 Item No. 12 Municipal Code Amendments to Regulate Film Production_Written Communications_2CC 11-04-2025
Item #12
Municipal Code
Amendments to
Regulate Film Production
Written Communications
From:Jean Bedord
To:City Council; Cupertino City Manager"s Office; City Clerk
Subject:Agenda Item # 12 Regulation of Film Production
Date:Tuesday, November 4, 2025 2:27:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Please include in tonight's public input. I can't speak since I'm picking up ballots for the
Registrar of Voters
-----------------------------------------------
Mayor Chao, Vice Mayor Moore, and councilmembers Fruen, Mohan and Wang, and staff,
I urge you to unanimously approve this Ordinance as written. Staff has thoughtfully
developed the proposal after investigating other cities and will be seeking review from the
California Film Commission. Encouraging film production can be beneficial to our local
businesses and well as free publicity for the city. Unreasonable restrictions are counter
productive. Film producers have choices of locations, and want expeditious approval - time is
money!
This ordinance has two major objectives:
(1) Establish a standard procedure to obtain a filming permit, which benefits both staff and
the applicants. Staff has already dealt with approximately a dozen filming inquiries on an
adhoc basis so their experience shaped this proposed ordinance.
(2)Currently the city can't recover its costs because there is no means to establish a fee.
So this ordinance authorizes the City to collect permit fees to recover costs associated with
the processing, review, and issuance of film permits. A separate fee schedule will be
developed establishing fees comparable to fees in other cities that have an established film
permit process.
Council should not be micromanaging this process - it's comparable to obtaining a business
license. Staff can handle the permits on a timely basis, and are well aware of the need to
involve different departments, depending on the project.
Please approve without undue deliberation - this is a win for the city.
Sensible government advocate,
Jean Bedord
From:Peggy Griffin
To:Public Comments
Subject:2025-11-04 City Council Meeting-ITEM12 Film Production Regulation-REMOVE 501c4
Date:Tuesday, November 4, 2025 8:44:11 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS AS PART OF WRITTEN
COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE AGENDA ITEM.
Dear City Council and Staff,
In reading the draft ordinance, I request that you modify section 5.51.020 Definitions
A. “Charitable…” to REMOVE 501 (c)(4) organizations. These are political in nature and
should not be given fee waivers or special privileges.
Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
5.51.020 Definitions
A. "Charitable or student film" means any filming by (i) a nonprofit organization,
which qualifies under Section 501 (c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code as a
charitable organization; or (ii) an accredited educational institution, and for
which no person, directly or indirectly, shall receive a profit from the marketing
and production of the film or from showing the films, tapes or photos.