LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Plan to Merge Film Permit Offices Moves Forward

A plan aimed at boosting filmmaking in the Los Angeles area by merging the city and county offices that issue location permits moved closer to realization with the approval of two City Council committees Thursday.

After a public hearing at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Public Works and Government Efficiency committees recommended merging the two agencies into a one-stop permit, marketing and community relations office by July 1.

The merger proposal, which has been hotly debated for more than a year, has approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and support from Mayor Richard Riordan. Councilman Hal Bernson has said he expects the City Council to vote for the consolidation.

The merger was proposed as a first step in eventually combining filming and permit activities in a six-county region. The consolidation proposals are part of an effort to entice filmmakers to do more location shooting here instead of taking casts and crews to other cities, where industry leaders say they can shoot their films more cheaply and easily.