[HISTORY: Adopted by the Bloomfield Council 4-2-1991 (Ch. 123 of
the 1987 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The taking of still or motion pictures, either on film, videotape
or similar recording equipment, for commercial or educational purposes,
intended for viewing on television or in theaters or for institutional
use or for advertising purposes.
Any and every public street, highway, sidewalk or square,
public park or playground or other public place within the Township
which is within the jurisdiction and control of the Township.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
A.
No person, firm or corporation shall film or permit
filming within the Township of Bloomfield without first obtaining
a permit therefor, which permit shall set forth the location of such
filming and the date or dates when filming shall take place.
B.
Permits shall be obtained in the office of the Township Clerk during normal business hours. Applications for such permits shall be in a form approved by the Township Clerk and shall be accompanied by a permit fee as set forth in § 228-14. Incidental use of a public sidewalk or street which does not result in the closing of the street or sidewalk to public use shall not be considered filming on public land.
C.
Where filming takes place on private property, permission
of the owner must be obtained in writing.
D.
One permit shall be required for each location.
No permit shall be issued for filming at a particular
location in a residential zone within the Township of Bloomfield which
would permit filming at said location on more than four days during
any one calendar year.
No permit shall be issued for filming upon public
lands within the Township of Bloomfield unless the applicant for such
permit:
A.
Provides proof of insurance coverage as follows; for
bodily injury for any one person, in the amount of $500,000; and for
any aggregate occurrence, in the amount of $1,000,000.
B.
Agrees, in writing, to indemnify and save harmless
the Township of Bloomfield from any and all liability or damages from
the use of such public lands.
The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable
steps to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians
and traffic over public lands and shall comply with all lawful directives
issued by the Bloomfield Police Department with respect thereto.
The holder of a permit shall conduct filming
in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience or discomfort to
adjoining property owners attributable to such filming and shall,
to the extent practicable, abate noise and park vehicles associated
with such filming off the public streets.
The holder shall avoid any interference with
previously scheduled activities upon public lands and limit, to the
extent possible, any interference with normal public activity on such
public lands.
The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable
steps to minimize the creation and spread of debris and rubbish during
filming and shall be responsible for removing all equipment, debris
and other rubbish from the filming location upon the completion of
filming or the expiration of the permit, whichever comes first.
Filming shall be permitted only Monday through
Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or sundown, whichever
is earlier, in residential zones.
A.
The Township Clerk may refuse to issue a permit whenever they
determine, on the basis of objective facts and after a review of the
application and a report thereon by the Police Department and by other
Township agencies involved with the proposed filming site, that filming
at the location and/or the time set forth in the application would
violate any law or ordinance or would unreasonably interfere with
the public's use of public lands, unreasonably interfere with the
use and enjoyment of adjoining properties, unreasonably impede the
free flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or otherwise endanger
the public's health, safety or welfare.
B.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Township
Clerk denying or revoking a permit or a person requesting relief may
appeal to the Mayor and Council. A written notice of appeal setting
forth the reasons for the appeal shall be filed with the Township
Clerk. An appeal from the decision of the Township Clerk. An appeal
from the decision of the Township Clerk shall be filed within 10 days
of the Township Clerk's decision. The Mayor and Council shall set
the matter down for a hearing within 30 days of the day on which the
notice of appeal was filed. The decision of the Mayor and Council
shall be in the form of a resolution. A resolution supporting the
decision of the Township Clerk or granting relief shall be approved
by the Mayor and Council at the first regularly scheduled public meeting
of the Mayor and Council after the hearing on the appeal, unless the
appellant agrees, in writing, to a later date for the decision. If
such a resolution is not adopted in the time required, the decision
of the Township Clerk shall be deemed to be reversed and a permit
shall be issued in conformity with the application or the relief shall
be deemed denied.
The Mayor and Council may authorize a waiver
of any of the requirements or limitations of this chapter and may
authorize filming other than during the hours herein described or
may permit filming at a particular location in a residential zone
on more than four days during any one calendar year or may waive any
other limitation or requirement of this chapter whenever it determines
that strict compliance with such limitations will pose an unreasonable
burden upon the applicant and that such a permit may be issued without
endangering the public's health, safety or welfare.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
The applicant shall notify the Fire Prevention
Bureau 24 hours before filming takes place and permit the Fire Inspectors
to inspect the site and the equipment to be used. The applicant shall
comply with all firesafety instructions issued by the Fire Inspector.
The applicant will be required to hire one or
more off-duty police officers when deemed necessary by the Police
Chief.
[Amended 4-6-2009 by Ord. No. 09-28]
Permit fees shall be as follows:
A.
Filming permit: $100.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
B.
Daily filming fee: $675 per day.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
C.
Filming permit for nonprofit applicants filming for
educational purposes (including public land): $31.25. (No daily rate
required.)
[Amended 5-5-2008 by Ord. No. 08-18]
Any person violating this chapter or rules and regulations contained herein shall be subject to, upon conviction, the penalty as provided in § 1-15, General penalty, of this Code.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
to the filming of news stories within the Township of Bloomfield.
