On Thursday, January 14, 2021 the Production Industry Council passed a motion recommending “the City Commission support the creation of a State of Florida funded Film Rebate Program to incentivize the Film, Television and Digital Industry in an effort to revitalize the State Economy.” Specifically, the Council recommended the City Commission support two State of Florida bills; Senate Bill 704: Entertainment Industry and House Bill 757: Film, Television, and Digital Media Targeted Rebate Program. While I wholeheartedly agree and have advocated for such programs during my tenure as the State Representative, I believe there may be steps we can take immediately to incentivize the industry in the City of Miami Beach. 

Please place on the agenda a referral to the Production Industry Council a request for the Council to research and identify any and all City of Miami Beach fees applicable to the film, television and digital Industries and make recommendations on what if any fees can be waived or reduced. The administration can assist the council with this effort.

Additionally, I ask that the Council consider the amount of fees currently collected annually as well as projected revenue losses due to proposed waived or reduced fees.

The work of the council and the resulting work product should be produced in a LTC.