City Council

(11) 25-1503 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to various Departments, with support from the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), to develop and present within 60 days a Citywide Soundstage Certification and Fast-Track Infrastructure Program; and related matters. Recommendations for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Nazarian - Padilla): 1. INSTRUCT the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), Department of City Planning (DCP). Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), and the Board of Public Works (BPW), with support from the ChiefLegislative Analyst (CLA), to develop and present within 60 days a Citywide Soundstage Certification and Fast-Track Infrastructure Program, including but not limited to: a. A standardized “Certified LA Stage” designation, with clear, published criteria related to: i. Fire and life-safety standards. ii. Access and circulation. iii. Sound isolation. iv. Power capacity and electrical safety. v. Parking, loading, and worker facilities. vi. Environmental and sustainability standards. vii. Alignment with union safety rules and industry norms. b. A time-certain plan check and inspection pathway, establishing guaranteed maximum processing timelines for: i. New soundstage construction. ii. Conversion of existing industrial or warehouse structures. iii. Expansion of active stages. Adaptive reuse of commercial or manufacturing buildings. c. Creation of a “Stage Corridor Fast-Track Zone,” prioritizing key industrial areas—such as the San Fernando Valley, Westside, Hollywood, South Los Angeles, the Harbor, and Downtown—for expedited permitting and review. d. A unified interdepartmental workflow ensuring LADBS, LAFD, DCP, LADWP, and Public Works coordinate inspections and approvals, with a single point of contact for applicants. e. Public posting of all certification standards, timelines, checklists, and required documentation on LADBS and FilmLA platforms to ensure full transparency and predictable expectations for stage operators. f. Recommendations on utility-readiness, including LADWP power-capacity upgrades and pre-approved infrastructure options for large-scale stage operations. 2. INSTRUCT the CLA and BPW Film Liaison to report to Council on opportunities to harmonize the Certified LA Stage program with regional Councils of Government, including shared standards and potential cross-jurisdictional stage corridors. 3. DECLARE that for any production entity that receives any benefit through any of the motions presented, that entity shall, as a condition of receiving said benefit, be obligated to participate in an Employer sponsored Health Insurance plan that meets standards established in the Motion Picture and Television industry for each employee employed on any such production. Said Health Plan shall be portable for the employee in that the contributions made by the employer on behalf of the employee shall be such a manner that the employee is enabled to carry said contribution from employer to employer. Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.