County to Do Its Own Film Permitting : Hollywood: Supervisors will sever contract with company that provoked criticism. Director fired by firm will fill new post.

Moving to resolve a brewing controversy that threatened to undermine relations with the powerful movie and television industry, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to reclaim control of film permitting operations and hire Stephanie H. Liner as the new industry go-between.

The board’s vote means the county will sever its contract with the private, nonprofit Economic Development Corp., which it hired in 1990 to issue location shooting permits, collect fees and promote the industry.

The film office now will become part of the Department of Regional Planning.

The county will create a new film liaison position to be filled by Liner, whose dismissal by the Economic Development Corp. as film office director last month provoked a storm of protest among industry heavyweights and propelled the doings of the little-known film branch into the limelight.

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“Stephanie’s return serves as a signal to the industry that we mean business in retaining industry jobs in Los Angeles County,” Supervisor Mike Antonovich said.

Despite the transition from private to public control, few changes are expected in the overall operation of the film permitting office. Regional Planning Director Jim Hartl said his department already has ties with many film representatives and that he will seek to strengthen those relations.

“We used to do film permits before the film office was created and already control land use permits, so I think it’s a natural fit,” Hartl said. “We intend to launch an outreach program with the industry to assure them services will not drop, and will be looking for input on what their needs are. Our message to the industry is that we’re here to support and to help and we will do what we can.”

The board’s action was seen by many observers as recognition of the importance of the multibillion-dollar film industry and is expected to quicken efforts to merge the county’s film office with that of the city of Los Angeles, a consolidation that Liner has championed.

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Besides acting as a problem solver and seeing to the day-to-day needs of producers and film crews, one of Liner’s key concerns will be shepherding to completion the proposed merger, she said.

The board also ordered Hartl to report within 30 days on what steps must be taken to consolidate city and county film permit operations.

Industry officials applauded the board’s actions and said they are encouraged that consolidation will move more quickly.

The Board of Supervisors has agreed on the concept. Although Mayor Richard Riordan has indicated support, the City Council must still approve the plan.

“I think with the city watching the county move at lightning speed, it has been given an incentive to move as quickly as it can,” said Gini Barrett, vice president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.