Before filming all or any portion of a movie, television show, commercial, or other film project in the city, the operating executive in charge of the film project, or its authorized agent, must contact the office of the city administrator to discuss the project’s specific filming requirements and the feasibility of filming in the city.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 4, adopted 9/20/21)
(a) 
Before any party commences or engages in any commercial filming activities on any public street, alley, right-of-way, or property owned by the city, the party shall file an application for a permit to authorize or permit commercial filming within the city (“application”). The completed application and the supporting documentation required by this article shall be filed with the city secretary. An approved form application for commercial filming to seek authorization and a permit for commercial filming within the city is attached to Ordinance 2021-09-20-B as exhibit A.
(b) 
Any person or entity filming in the city must complete and return the application for commercial filming to the city secretary, for the following types of commercial filming activities:
(1) 
Commercials or episodic television a minimum of fifteen (15) business days prior to the commencement of filming or any substantial activity related to the project.
(2) 
Feature films a minimum of thirty (30) business days prior to the commencement of filming or any substantial activity related to the project.
(c) 
Before filing an application for commercial filming, the mayor or the city administrator must be contacted by the intended applicant, or its authorized agent, to discuss specific and final filming requirements that the applicant will include in a proposed application for commercial filming.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 5, adopted 9/20/21)
The city council for the city shall have exclusive authority to grant the application as well as the additional authority to set and regulate the hours and locations of filming production and the use of public streets and buildings of the city. The city council reserves the full and absolute right to prohibit all filming or to order the cessation of filming in order to promote the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the city.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 6, adopted 9/20/21)
The applicant shall provide a short-written description of the schedule for the proposed film production to the owners and residents of each property in the affected neighborhood as defined by boundaries set by the mayor or the city council. The applicant, or his designee, shall discuss with owners and residents of all such property and submit as part of the application a report noting any owner or resident’s agreement or disagreement with the proposed filming activities along with the address and phone numbers of all such property owners and residents and their signatures.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 7, adopted 9/20/21)
The city council may authorize the use of any street, right-of-way, 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. The city council may impose conditions and limitations to the approval of the application. The city council authorizes the mayor and the city administrator to take any additional action to ensure the full and complete compliance with the terms and provisions of this article and any terms and conditions set by the city council in approving the application. The mayor or the city administrator may require that any or all of the conditions as specified on the application be met as a prerequisite to beginning any filming activities.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 8, adopted 9/20/21)
The applicant, as a condition of the approval of an application, shall permit law enforcement, code enforcement, and any authority authorized to conduct building inspections for the city to inspect all structures and/or devices and equipment to be used in connection with the filming and taping as deemed necessary or as directed by the mayor or the city administrator.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 9, adopted 9/20/21)
The mayor or the city administrator shall have the authority to require police or fire personnel, or city-owned equipment be present and on duty or in use at the site of filming activities if it is determined to be in the best interest for public safety or in the best interest of public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the city.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 10, adopted 9/20/21)
(a) 
The city council may authorize the use of any street, right-of-way, public building, name, trademark or logo, 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 mayor or the city administrator may require that any or all of the conditions and/or remuneration as specified on the application be met as a prerequisite to that use. A security or damage deposit may be required by the mayor based on production activity.
(b) 
The applicant agrees that the city shall have full control over the use of the name, trademark and logo, public streets and buildings of the city while being used, 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 order cessation of filming if determined to be hazardous to the public health, safety, or welfare to the citizens of the city.
(c) 
If filming is done on city property or if any road in the city is to be blocked or obstructed, a security agreement must be signed by the police chief for the city before any filming is to be done. Costs for security is the sole responsibility of the filming organization and the number of officers and road closures have to be approved prior to filming by the chief of police for the city (“chief of police”).
(d) 
No large trucks or filming on the streets or roads may begin within the city without the prior review and approval of the city council which may, in the opinion of the mayor, the city administrator, or the chief of police, cause damage to the roads or streets. This includes any actions which will impede a street or road by any vehicles on any city right-of-way.
(e) 
If filming activities will cause noise or excessive lighting which will exceed and affect areas outside of the filming area between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the applications shall specify such activities so that owners of adjacent properties will have the ability to be heard prior to the city council’s consideration of the application. If such activities become necessary as part of filming after the approval of the application, the mayor or the city administrator shall be notified prior to any such filming and the council must approve the filming activities that will cause noise or excessive lighting which will affect areas outside of the filming area between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Owners of adjacent properties may appear at the council meeting to be heard prior to the city council’s consideration of the application. If any streets or roads are to be closed to prevent noise for filming, a safety plan must be approved by the chief of police prior to any filming.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 11, adopted 9/20/21)
The applicant shall provide a full and complete list of the number of vehicles and types of equipment to be used during the filming including their proposed hours of use and their proposed parking locations. All parking locations must be approved by the mayor or the city administrator. The use of exterior lighting, power generators, or any other noise or light producing equipment requires on-site approval of the mayor or the city administrator.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 12, adopted 9/20/21)
Unless the approved application states otherwise as authorized in this article, filming will be limited to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on any day unless prior authorization to film at times other than 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. is approved by the city council.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 13, adopted 9/20/21)
The applicant shall attach with the application a 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 aggregate general liability, including bodily injury or death and property damage with a $5,000,000.00 umbrella insurance; and automobile liability (if applicable) in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 including bodily injury and property damage.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 14, adopted 9/20/21)
The applicant shall pay in full, within ten (10) days from date of an invoice, the repair costs for any and all damage to public or private property, resulting from or in connection with, the filming, and restore the property to its original or better condition existing prior to the filming.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 15, adopted 9/20/21)
The applicant, by submitting an application for approval as authorized in this article, shall agree to hold the city harmless from any claim, damages or cause of action arising against the city now or in the future, known or unknown, resulting from the applicant’s filming operations.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 16, adopted 9/20/21)
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the persons or agencies designated by the city, including, but not limited to, the county sheriff’s department, the chief of police for the city police department, any peace officer employed by the city police department, any designated building official, and the code enforcement officer. It shall be a violation of this article to interfere with a peace officer or any other person authorized to enforce the provisions of this article in the performance of his or her duties.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 17, adopted 9/20/21)
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this article, or shall fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof within the city limits, shall be deemed guilty of an offense and shall be liable for a fine not to exceed the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). Each day the violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Such penalty shall be in addition to all the other remedies provided herein.
(Ordinance 21-09-20-B, sec. 18, adopted 9/20/21)