Remarks by Nikki Perez
67 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 3
Yeah. I have a few questions. My first question was, hi, thank you so much, Mary. My first question was about the, I was trying to look for it here, but the part where we talk about hiring a marketing firm and doing that piece. Have we looked at any specific firms or, you know, I got questions from folks in the industry, who are we going to pick? Because I think you've heard this a thousand times. It's really important for folks and self-included that we find somebody that is familiar with the industry, that knows the inner workings. that can speak, not to just lay folks like me, but who can…
Okay. Thank you. I don't have any other questions or comments, but I know we're not there yet. Okay.
While she pulls that up, the city does actually have a wonderful website where the fees are on the website, which I think is great. I know there was a lot of work that went into updating that because it was not as straightforward before. So it is a new website.
Madam Mayor, there's also a recommendation on the facilities fee, but my understanding is those are the two that were touched.
Yeah, thank you. So obviously this is like the culmination of something that I was very proud to put forward for the city because I feel like we had to have this conversation. The industry is in my blood. And I wanted to make sure that we were actually doing something rather than just saying we are the media capital of the world. So I appreciate the work staff has done. I appreciate everybody who sat on that task force and who are still here tonight. Shout out, Leslie. And if you want to talk animation, talk to Leslie. If you want to talk animation, talk to Leslie. But I had a few things I…
And we can even pull part from the handbook, but I think it helps folks, you know, When they are here, like my colleague mentioned, people, location scouts go like this when they're picking locations, when they're picking where to eat, where they're picking all of those things. So if we can have that list handy, we can ensure that people are actually spending the money in Burbank, which is our goal, right? Our goal is that this, all the things that we're doing, invest in the economy of the city through what is possibly our purpose. Most important industry our most widely participated in…
One clarification for me, because I realize I didn't mention this. I know the committee's recommendation was, or the task force recommendation was to waive the permit fees and the location fees. Given our economic situation, I'm okay waiving just one, because part of waiving them, part of waiving the permit fees is, and we talked about this during the commission, it's not just the fee itself, it's also that we can put that out there. It makes people want to come film here, and we may increase. And they have talked about increases in Santa Monica and in Culver City because of that permit fee…
Just to add to that a little bit, and I appreciate the statistics. My fear is that that's the statistics now. People are just starting to talk about Culver City, about all these places. And I'm afraid that that creativeness is going to swing over there. Because that's what I hear now. And it used to be Burbank. And I really want to... let folks know that we are open for business with these permit fees, that we are available for you to shoot in the city. And that's why, look, I understand the deficit we're in, which is why I'm not going to push for the location fees. I think that that would…
Yes. So I have had conversations with the city manager about that. That's where I was saying I'm flexible in timeline. I just don't want to go study other cities. We know what they're doing. I would love to have this, if we can, come back in December where you'll tell us fully. What does it look like without permit fees with what our new actual budget is? And I'll throw one other thing in there. I was toying with throwing this out there or not because I don't want to make it more complicated, but we talked so much about the potential of deposit, reimbursement. Honestly, one of my original…
And a few of the cities have made it like that kind of a reimbursement thing.
I got to add one thing just because I didn't say it earlier. You mentioned earlier that you guys aren't good at marketing. I watch your Instagram. You're great at marketing. Oh, yeah, you're good.
I will concede. I'll wait till December. I'll be fiscally responsible since I'm hearing that's where the council is going. But I do want to make sure that we do bring this back. It has been over a year. So we've had the conversations. And the last thing I will ask of staff, and I know I ask a lot of you guys, so thank you for delivering, is please, please talk to the folks at Stay in LA. They've been doing amazing things in the city of LA. Okay.
I'll make a motion to have staff bring us back a full discussion on waiving fees with the methods that were discussed today in December for a vote.
And my motion is to bring back the discussion on fee waivers for the one-year pilot program that was recommended by the task force. Thank you. For implementation January 1st? January 1st is what I'm looking at.
The three tiers that they looked at. I know you all wanted data on the three different tiers. I second. Does staff understand?
Thank you so much, Madam Mayor. On Tuesday, September 22nd, I also attended the Burbank Fire Department promotional ceremony. It was very nice. It was a lovely event. And I do want to shout out our new fire inspector, Mother Spa, who let me hold her five-month-old baby while she went up to get pinned by her husband. It was beautiful. Kudos to you for being a mom in the fire service. You are awesome. And you let me hold a five-month-old again. So let me reminisce. And then that same day, I met with one of our residents who is facing a landlord tenant issue and wanted more information about the…
Saturday, I also attended the Zonta Club of Burbank's 90th anniversary luncheon. Congratulations, Gloria. I love you. You are amazing. And that is what I did this week.
Yeah, that's right. See? See? See? Fiscal irresponsible to me.
Thank you, Chief. I know it's not easy. You and I have talked at length, and I know you have an open-door policy for anybody who wants to talk to you at length, any resident who has questions. So I appreciate that because that is an opportunity for you to share exactly where we're at and the challenges we're facing. And I want to stick to that word you used, challenge, because that is the time we are in. I know there are things that folks would like to see. I can tell you there are things I would like to see. I would like to see ICE abolished. And I know that there's a lot of frustration…
Thank you, Chief. And switching gears, can I ask you a hypothetical? If ICE were to call in under all of the statutes and laws that you just mentioned and ask for information on somebody's book that they saw on the website and you all said no, what could happen?
Essentially, one of the folks on your watch could go to jail.
And that's why I want to just point that out for the community, the challenge, right, that we are under in this seat, in your chair, because in many of these situations we may, and I'll speak for myself, but I know we've had conversations on this, We may feel that something occurring is not right. Obviously, we're not aiding in any way. But there are the federal laws that preempt where we can stop the buck. And so again, I will say it. I do think this is incumbent on the federal government to stop putting us in these situations. They have the absolute power to do so.
And I want to be clear, they were combative towards anybody asking questions in that moment in place and time.
And that's what I want to put out there. I want to be very clear about the challenging situation that puts you in, that puts your entire department in, all of us in here, and And I thank you for every day getting up here and doing your best to meet the moment. Because again, this is not something anybody in our shoes or in your shoes has been asked to do. So thank you. I appreciate you speaking with members of the public, coming here to speak with us. And for what unfortunately will be a continued situation as we try to find a way to mitigate it at the level that we can here. Thank you. And…
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.