Cover Page

DATE:

October 7, 2026

FROM:

Todd Hileman, City Manager

PREPARED BY:

Jennifer Colby, Public Affairs Manager

SUBJECT:

CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION RESOLUTION NO. 8037 TO AMEND THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE TO UPDATE FILM OFFICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT FEES

Recommendation

It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 8037 amending Resolution No. 8000, updating the Master Fee Schedule including Film Permit fees, Fire Department fees, and Community Services Department facility rental and program fees, as set forth in Exhibit A.

Executive Summary

The City periodically reviews and updates the Master Fee Schedule to ensure that fees charged for municipal services reasonably reflect the City’s cost of providing those services. This report proposes updates to three fee categories:

Film Office: Adding a previously approved 15% technology surcharge to permits processed through the new online permitting software, and clarifying the application of the Business Improvement Tax (BIT) to film permits while reflecting accurate overhead cost;
Fire Department: Reinstating fees and correcting errors in several listed fees; and
Community Services: Eliminating the non-resident and non-profit rates for Measure A-funded projects, including Camp Med, sports fields, open park spaces, and facility rentals at Orange Grove Park Rec Center, Garfield Youth House, and Eddie House, per grant requirements.

Background

On May 6, 2026, City Council approved Resolution No. 8000 establishing the Master Fee Schedule for FY 2026-2027, and related fee study justifying each fee.

Analysis

Staff periodically reviews and updates the Master Fee Schedule to ensure that fees charged for municipal services reasonably reflect the City’s cost of providing those services. Based on operational changes since the Master Fee Schedule was adopted in May, staff is proposing updates to the following fee categories.

Film Office Fees

The current Master Fee Schedule lists daily permit rates for filming within the City of South Pasadena, which are calculated based on the cost of services provided by the City. In addition to the permit fee, applicants are also charged Business Improvement Tax (BIT) for the following permits: Still Photography, Motion Picture Photography, and Handheld Video Crew with less than 20 people. While the BIT is charged separately, the current Master Fee Schedule incorrectly states that the permit fee includes the BIT amount.

After hiring a Film Liaison in June 2026, staff assessed the overhead cost associated with processing film permits, which justified the current rates listed within the fee schedule.

Additionally, in late 2025, the City entered a contract with Location Pro to launch an online film permitting software. The contract includes a 15% technology surcharge for all permits purchased. The City Council approved this via Resolution No. 7936 but this figure was not added to the current Master Fee Schedule. The software will become available to the public once this rate is added to the Master Fee Schedule.

Staff proposes the following changes:

Add a 15% technology surcharge to all film permits processed through the City’s new online permitting software. This surcharge was previously approved via Resolution No. 7936 but was not officially added to the current Master Fee Schedule.
Remove the notation that the current fees include the BIT, which is an error. The BIT will still be applied in addition to the fee, as has been past practice. The previous fee erroneously indicated that it was part of the fee rather than in addition to it.
Move film-related fees from Fire Department section to Film section.

Fee Description	Current Fee	Proposed Fee	Basis for Change
Film Permit Fees:
Still photography – Per Day	166.00 inclusive of BIT	166.00	Remove the erroneous notation that the fee includes BIT.
Motion Picture Photography – Per Day	667.00 inclusive of BIT	667.00	Remove the erroneous notation that the fee includes BIT.
Handheld Video Crew with less than 20 people – Per Day	166.00 inclusive of BIT	166.00	Remove the erroneous notation that the fee includes BIT.
Technology processing fee (Applies to cost of permits)		15%	New fee in compliance with agreement
Film Production and Fire Permit Fees:
Special Film Fueling Truck (Daily)	390.00	390.00	Moved from Fire section
Pyrotechnics and Special Effects (Daily)	351.00	351.00	Moved from Fire Section
Fire (Eight Hour Minimum) per hour	110.00	110.00	Moved from Fire Section

Fire Department Fees

In reviewing the current Master Fee Schedule against prior years' adopted schedules, staff identified a number of Fire Department fees that were entered incorrectly during a previous update or inadvertently omitted altogether, resulting in the City either under-collecting or not collecting for certain services it continues to provide. Staff also identified additional services for which no fee currently exists.

Staff proposes the following changes to Fire Department fees:

Correct a number of existing fees that were either entered incorrectly in the current Master Fee Schedule or inadvertently omitted from it, despite having been included in the City's fee schedules in previous years. These corrections are intended to restore the fee schedule to its intended, previously adopted amounts and are not intended to reflect a new cost-of-service methodology.
Move Film Production and Fire Permit Fees from the Fire section to the City Manager/Filming section.
Move fees within the Department to different sections of the Master Fee Schedule as appropriate.

Fee Description	Current Fee	Proposed Fee	Basis for Change
Emergency Medical Services:
Other EMS Fees	LA County Fee	LA County Fee	Moved from "Noncompliance after Second Inspection"
Paramedic Program – Residential (6 months or less)		50.00	Reinstating existing fee that was omitted from current Master Fee Schedule
Paramedic Program – Business (6 months or less)		57.00	Reinstating existing fee that was omitted from current Master Fee Schedule
Fire Hazard Severity Zone:
Abatement Enforcement Administrative Fee	750.00	750.00	Moved to "Noncompliance after Second Inspection"
Noncompliance after Second Inspection:
Other EMS Fees	LA County Fee	LA County Fee	Moved to “Emergency Medical Services”
Abatement Enforcement Administrative Fee	750.00	750.00	Moved from line 230
Standby Fees:
Engine Company – (Use or Standby)		1,491.32	New fee (adding existing fee that was omitted from current Master Fee Schedule)
Ambulance		353.74	New fee (adding existing fee that was omitted from current Master Fee Schedule)
Chief Officer Per Hr. - With 2 Hr. Min.		562.38	New fee (adding existing fee that was omitted from current Master Fee Schedule)
Fire Standby (per person)		176.87	New fee (adding existing fee that was omitted from current Master Fee Schedule)
Film Production and Permit Fees
Special Film Fueling Truck	390.00	390.00	Moved to City Manager, Film Permit section
Pyrotechnics and Special Effects	351.00	351.00	Moved to City Manager, Film Permit section
Filming	343.00	343.00	Moved to City Manager, Film Permit section
Fire Safety Officer	156.00	156.00	Moved to City Manager, Film Permit section

Community Services Department Fees

Fees are charged for facility rentals, recreation programs, and other services which use staff time and City resources. These services typically have separate rates for residents, non-residents, and non-profit organizations.

The City of South Pasadena is a recipient of Los Angeles County Measure A funding. Projects funded by Measure A must be open and accessible to the public in perpetuity, and grantees must not charge fees that differentiate between residents and non-residents. Within the Community Services Department, Measure A-funded projects are associated with Camp Med, sports fields, open park spaces, and facility rentals at Orange Grove Park Recreation Center, Garfield Youth House, and Eddie Park House.

Staff proposes to remove the non-profit and non-resident fee rates from Measure A-funded projects, establishing a uniform fee for all applicants, as required by the grant agreement.

Fee Description	Current Fee	Proposed Fee	Basis for Change
Camp Med Fees:
Camp Med – Five Day Rate – 1^st Child - Resident	$180.00	N/A	Description update
Camp Med – Five Day Rate – Each Additional Child - Resident	$170.00	N/A	Description update
Camp Med - Five Day Rate - 1st Child - Non-Resident	200.00	N/A	Delete
Camp Med - Five Day Rate - Each Additional Child - Non-Resident	190.00	N/A	Delete
Camp Med – One Day Rate – 1^st Child – Resident	$36.00	N/A	Description update
Camp Med – One Day Rate – Each Additional Child – Resident	$34.00	N/A	Description update
Camp Med - One Day Rate - 1st Child - Non-Resident	40.00	N/A	Delete
Camp Med - One Day Rate - Each Additional Child - Non-Resident	38.00	N/A	Delete
Field and Open Space Rental Fees:
Sport Fields -- Non-Profit (per hr.)	55.00	N/A	Delete
Sport Field – Resident (per hr.)	$47.00	N/A	Description update
Sports Field - Non-Resident (per hr.)	62.00	N/A	Delete
Open Space - Groups < 50 Persons - Resident	25.00	N/A	Delete
Open Space – Groups < 50 Persons – Non-Resident	$40.00	N/A	Description update
Multi-Use Courts – OG & Garfield Parks – Resident (per hr.)	$30.00	N/A	Description update
Multi-Use Courts - OG & Garfield Parks - Non-Resident (per hr.)	35.00	N/A	Delete
Multi-Use Courts - OG & Garfield Parks - Non-Profit (per hr.)	50.00	N/A	Delete
Orange Grove Rec Center Rental Fees:
Non-Profit (per hr.)	35.00	N/A	Delete
Orange Grove Rec. Center Hourly Rate	35.00	N/A	Description update
Non-Resident (per hr.)	50.00	N/A	Delete
Eddie Park House Rental Fees:
Non-Profit (per hr.)	110.00	N/A	Delete
Eddie Park House – Hourly Rate	100.00	N/A	Description update
Non-Resident (per hr.)	120.00	N/A	Delete
Garfield Youth House Rental Fees:
Non-Profit (per hr.)	85.00	N/A	Delete
Garfield Youth House – Hourly Rate	75.00	N/A	Description update
Non-Resident (per hr.)	120.00	N/A	Delete
Event (4 hr. block) Resident Only	200.00	N/A	Delete

Alternatives

City Council can choose to not approve the recommended amendments to the master fees schedule, and if so, the fees would remain the same.

Fiscal Impact

Adoption of the resolution has no significant fiscal impact, as the Master Fee Schedule is an administrative framework. There is no anticipated impact on the General Fund’s expenditure budget as a result of this action.

Public Notification

Notice of the public hearing on this item was published and posted in accordance with Government Code Sections 66016 and 6062a at least ten (10) days prior to this meeting.

Attachment: