(a) The
guidelines contained in this policy are intended to create a program
for promoting economic development activity within the city and the
vicinity of the city. The following guidelines are also intended to
protect the personal and property rights of city residents and businesses,
and to promote the public health, safety and welfare. The city manager
reserves the right to impose additional regulations in the interest
of public health, safety and welfare, or if otherwise deemed appropriate
by the city manager.
(b) These
guidelines pertain to requests for commercial filming in the city.
This includes commercial use of city-owned property (including but
not limited to streets, rights-of-way, parks, and/or public buildings),
commercial use of private property which may affect adjacent public
or private property, and the use of city equipment and personnel in
all types of film production, including, but not limited to, documentaries,
feature films, television programs, commercials, music videos, and
corporate films.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in these guidelines,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Applicant.
Any production company, business, or individual wishing to
conduct a film shoot in the city.
Application.
City of Granbury’s application for filming, which is
available on the city website at www.granbury.org/film.
Commercial.
Film that is being prepared, done, or acting with sole or
chief emphasis on salability or profit. Film that involves use of
city-owned property (including but not limited to streets, rights-of-way,
parks, and/or public buildings), film that involves use of private
property which may affect adjacent public or private property, and
film that requires use of city equipment and personnel. This includes
all types of film production (documentaries, feature films, television
programs, commercials, music videos, corporate films, etc.).
Film.
To perform or undertake any activity within the corporate
limits of the city which constitutes, in whole or in part, a component
part of or necessary preparation for the process of recording moving
images onto a tangible medium, including but not limited to motion-picture
photographic film, videotape, videodisc or digitized storage of video
data.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
These guidelines do not apply to the following types of films:
(1) City business.
Film made for the city by city personnel
or a nonprofit 501(c)3 and film made for use in a criminal investigation
or court proceeding.
(2) News media.
Reporters and related crew in the employ
of a newspaper, news service, radio, or television broadcasting station,
or similar entity engaged in on the spot broadcasting, reporting,
or photographing of current news of general public interest.
(3) Private use.
Film made for private and not commercial
use, and film which will not impact public properties or adjacent
private properties. This includes amateur photography and videography.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
(a) The
city manager may authorize the use of any street, right-of-way, park,
or public building, equipment or personnel for commercial uses in
the filming or taping of movies, television programs, commercials,
or training films and related activities. In conjunction with these
uses, the city manager may require that any or all of the conditions
and/or remuneration herein and as specified on the application be
met as a prerequisite to that use.
(b) The
applicant agrees that the city shall have exclusive authority to grant
the applicant the use of public streets, rights-of-way, parks and
public buildings of the city, as well as authority to regulate the
hours of production and the general location of the production. The
city reserves the full and absolute right to prohibit all filming
or to order cessation of filming in order to promote the public health,
safety or welfare.
(c) The
applicant shall allow city departments (e.g., police, fire, building)
to inspect all structures, property, devices and equipment to be used
in connection with the filming and taping, as deemed appropriate by
the city manager.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
(a) Before
filing an application for filming in the city, the public information
officer must be contacted to discuss the production’s specific
filming requirements and the feasibility of filming in the city.
(b) Any
commercial producer who desires to undertake a commercial production
in the city is required to complete and return the application for
filming (available at www.granbury.org/film) to the public information
officer, within the time frames below:
(1) Commercials or episodic television.
A minimum of two
(2) business days prior to the commencement of filming or any substantial
activity related to the project.
(2) Feature films.
A minimum of five (5) business days prior
to the commencement of filming or any substantial activity related
to the project.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
(a) An
application processing fee should accompany each application for filming
in the city in accordance with the fee schedule adopted under the
city’s master fee schedule.
(b) The
city manager may waive this fee upon proof of an organization’s
nonprofit status or for any other reason deemed appropriate by the
city manager.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
(a) The
applicant shall pay for all costs of any police, fire, public works,
or other city personnel assigned to the project (whether or not specifically
requested by the production). Remuneration rates for the use of any
city equipment, including police cars and fire equipment, will be
established on a case-by-case basis as determined by the city manager.
The applicant shall pay all costs in full within ten (10) days after
receipt of an invoice for said costs. The city manager may, at his/her
discretion, require an advance deposit for all costs related to city
personnel and/or the use of city equipment.
(b) The
city manager, in consultation with the chief of police and/or fire
chief, shall have the authority to stipulate additional fire or police
requirements and level of staffing for same, at any time during a
film project if it is determined to be in the best interest of public
health, safety and welfare, which cost shall be borne entirely by
the applicant.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
(a) The
city manager may authorize the use of any street, right-of-way, park
or public building, use of city name, trademark or logo and/or use
of city equipment and/or personnel for commercial uses in motion-picture
production. In conjunction with these uses, the city manager may require
that any or all of the conditions and/or remuneration as specified
herein and on the application be met as a prerequisite to that use.
A security or damage deposit may be required within the discretion
of the city manager.
(b) The
applicant shall reimburse the city for inconveniences when using public
property in accordance with the fee schedule adopted under the city’s
master fee schedule.
(c) The
applicant acknowledges and agrees that the city possesses and retains
exclusive authority to grant the applicant a revocable license for
the use of its name, trademark, and logo, public streets, rights-of-way,
parks and buildings of the city as well as control over the hours
of production and the general location of the production. The city
reserves the full and absolute right to prohibit all filming or to
order cessation of filming activity in order to promote the public
health, safety and/or welfare.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
(a) The
applicant shall provide a report listing the number of vehicles and
types of equipment to be used during the filming, including proposed
hours of use and proposed parking locations. Such locations will need
to be specifically approved by the city manager. On-street parking
or use of public parking lots is subject to city approval.
(b) The
use of exterior lighting, power generators, or any other noise- or
light-producing equipment requires on-site approval by a city representative.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
Unless express written permission has been obtained from the
city manager in advance, and affected property owners, tenants and
residents have been notified, filming will be limited to the following
hours:
(1) Monday through Friday.
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
(2) Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
The applicant must provide written notice, not less than 48
hours in advance, to all owners or occupants of real property abutting
the boundaries of the area in which the filming will be conducted.
The notice must include the following information:
(1) Filming
date, time and location on production letterhead;
(2) The
contact name and phone number of location scout or producer;
(3) Brief
description of what the filming will involve;
(4) An
application for a filming permit has been filed;
(5) Any
street closures and the duration of the closings.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
The applicant shall supply a valid certificate of insurance,
issued by a company authorized to conduct business in the state, naming
the city and its agents, officers, elected officials, employees and
assigns, as additional insured, in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00
general liability, including bodily injury and property damage with
a $5,000,000.00 umbrella; and automobile liability (if applicable)
in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 including bodily injury and
property damage.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
The applicant shall pay in full, within ten (10) days of receipt
of an invoice, the costs of repair for any and all damage to public
or private property, resulting from or in connection with, the production,
and restore the property to its original condition prior to the production,
or to better than original condition.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)
The applicant shall sign the following hold harmless agreement
in the application, holding the city harmless from any claim that
may arise from their use of designated public property, right-of-way,
or equipment in conjunction with the permitted use.
(Ordinance 19-30, ex. A, adopted 5/7/19)