The Mayor and Commission approved the attached ordinance on first reading on May 17, 2017.  The Administration recommends the Mayor and Commission approve the attached Ordinance at Second Reading Public Hearing on June 7, 2017.

Background

At the April 26, 2017, the Mayor and Commission discussed Item No. R9T, entitled, “Discuss potential film incentives for Miami Beach to support the film and television industry on a local level”.

The Administration presented an overview of the state of the film and print industry in Miami Beach. As was reported, Miami Beach has historically been a major national hub for film and print production for the better part of five decades, hosting major celebrities and box office and ratings sensations, including Miami Vice, Burn Notice, Magic City, Bird Cage, Bad Boys 1 & 2, Iron Man 3 and the recent Oscar winner Moonlight, and generating a significant revenue stream for the City. Miami Beach had seen steady growth in these fields since creating a film office in the 1990’s, with a substantial boost of 83% in permits issued and 403% in production dollars spent in Miami Beach immediately following passage and implementation of the State of Florida’s Film and Entertainment Incentive Program in July, 2010.

As we know, this incentive program was not supported by the current Governor or Legislature in recent sessions. Additional tax credit requests by the industry have been denied and the program was sunset altogether as of July, 2016. Since the program effectively ran out of available tax credits in 2013, the film and print permit figures collected by the City’s Film and Print office have since seen a decline of 44% in dollars spent and 36% in hotel room nights used in Miami Beach alone. Those numbers are expected to decline further.

The City currently has some incentives built into the codified guidelines that benefit the industry; however, the following parking related incentives were recommended and endorsed by the City Commission:

·         Eliminate the signed consent requirement for reservation of metered parking. A notification form with all details could supplant this use.  Note: this is the practice in New York City and Los Angeles, CA.

·         Re-instate the PCRV (Production Company Recreational Vehicle) parking permit. Recreational vehicles and the like displaying a valid city issued production/film permit would be honored at available metered parking and at taxi stands during non-operational hours.  The PCRV parking permit would be open to local and national productions and service companies, and would require monthly renewal, at a rate of $70.00, plus sales tax. Each PCRV pass must be prominently displayed in the front windshield of the vehicle, along with a copy of the active permit for which it is being employed for inspection.  Failure to display the PCRV and the active permit may result in Parking and Film Permit violation.

·         Crew parking at municipal parking garages where/when capacity permits at a reduced daily flat parking rate.  Typically, utilization at municipal garages during events/weekends/nights is high; however, there are opportunities to accommodate some level of crew parking at municipal garages during lower demand periods.  As an example, the Miami Beach Convention Center Garage, when completed, could serve as crew parking when the Convention Center is either dark or when parking demand permits. Other municipal garages have fluctuations that may also serve this purpose. A daily flat rate of $10 per vehicle equating to a 50% discount off of the maximum daily rate of $20 at most garages are consistent with the existing film/production daily parking space rental fee of $10.    

The attached ordinance reflects the aforementioned amendments necessary to codify and enact these incentives.   

The Mayor and Commission approved the attached ordinance on first reading on May 17, 2017.  The Administration recommends the Mayor and Commission approve the attached Ordinance at Second Reading Public Hearing on June 7, 2017.