INFRASTRUCTURAL NODES

Motion - In a recent report, "The Future of Filming in Downtown Los Angeles," the firm Plasmatic Concepts focused on how the increasing development of downtown as a residential and commercial area may impact filming activities, potentially leading to conflicts as residents and those filming on location compete for parking and deal with increased traffic. One recommendation made for helping to preserve filming downtown while minimizing filming's disruption of downtown life is the development of a network of "infrastructural nodes" throughout downtown. Such plug-in utility nodes would provide easy access to key infrastructure for filming, including water and power. The availability of such nodes would reduce the number of vehicles required by the film industry, cut down on base camp set-up and dismantling time, and potentially eliminate generators, leaving more room on streets for parking and pedestrian traffic. The report suggests that the cost of providing such nodes could be recouped over time by fees charged for their use. THEREFORE MOVE that Council request the Department of Water and Power to report back to the Energy and Environment Committee within sixty days on the feasibility of developing a network of "infrastructural nodes" throughout downtown to provide access to water and power for filming. The report should include a discussion of the cost of constructing such a network and of any legal issues that might need to be addressed in order to construct such a network and establish a system of fees to reimburse the Department for the costs of constructing and maintain such a project.