White Rock will be reviewing its film policy in an effort to attract more productions to the city.
The recommendation – brought forward from the economic investment committee – calls for a review of the city’s current film policy and process, the accommodation of a film liaison on staff and an “online presence” to promote filming in White Rock.
While council voted unanimously March 7 to approve the recommendations, Coun. Lynne Sinclair – who sits on the city’s cultural advisory committee – expressed concern about not having “clear alignment in roles and responsibilities” within committees.
Noting the city’s film strategy was already a part of the Cultural Strategic Plan, Sinclair said she was “reluctant to vote on it without it first being discussed by the cultural advisory committee.”
City manager Dan Bottrill said that although there may be some overlap between committees when it comes to objectives, he didn’t believe there were any “inefficiencies” taking place.
“I see this as just the economic investment committee working hard to try and position the city as well as it can to take advantage of economic opportunities,” Bottrill said.
Sinclair responded that “cultural and economic are not two discreet topics,” noting that many cultural activities can have economic benefits.
“It’s not just (the economic investment committee) that can generate dollars in this town,” Sinclair said. “When something is in a strategic plan under another committee’s purview… it should be referred to them for discussion.”
Following council’s vote to adopt the recommendations, Coun. Helen Fathers tabled a motion – carried unanimously – for the matter to be reviewed by the cultural advisory committee.