1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 10, 2025
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Danny Alvarez, Fire Chief
BY: Christine Alles, Fire Administrator
SUBJECT: Approval of a Cooperative Fire Service Agreement between the City of Burbank and Warner Bros. Studio Operations
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a Cooperative Fire Service Agreement (Agreement) between the City of Burbank and Warner Bros. Studio Operations (Warner Bros.).
BACKGROUND
As the largest studio facility in Burbank, and a significant member of the business community, Warner Bros. Studios has a long- standing relationship with the City of Burbank and the Burbank Fire Department (BFD) to ensure the highest degree of fire and life safety during film production activities. Due to the types of activity that occur on the lot, BFD staff has almost daily contact with Warner Bros.
In 2004, BFD began meeting with Warner Bros. executive staff to identify opportunities for collaboration, to form a proactive enforcement policy , and generally improve communications between BFD and Warner Bros. Most of these discussions focused on the required services provided by BFD for filming activity and the related service fees.
The meetings resulted in Warner Bros. offering to pay the annual costs of a full -time Burbank Fire Captain position to be located at Warner Bros . The Fire Captain provides consistent oversight of enforcement policies and serves as a communications link between the two parties. This position was first approved in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-06 Adopted B udget. A full-time Fire Captain began reporting to the Warner Bros. Studio Facilities on July 1, 2006 and continues to date. The initial Agreement between the City of Burbank and Warner Bros . was effective from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008. It was
FIRE DEPARTMENT
2 followed by a five-year agreement and First Amendment, expiring June 30, 2023. A new agreement was subsequently put in place for FY 2023- 2024 with a one- year extension, expiring June 30, 2025.
DISCUSSION
The assigned Fire Captain works a 40- hour work week while stationed on the Warner Bros. lot. This position coordinates a variety of services in support of production including permits, inspections, training of Warner Bros. fire and production personnel, support and training related to emergency medical services delivery, disaster preparedness and fire suppression/mitigation, and in general assists Warner Bros. with making necessary contact at BFD and other City Departments. The full-time Fire Captain alleviates the need for Fire Safety Officers to be in attendance at each live audience show, since there is always a BFD presence on sit e who can conduct spot checks and ensure the required evacuation routes are provided.
This arrangement has been mutually beneficial to both parties. Warner Bros. receives timely and consistent service as it relates to the permitting process and the availability of BFD personnel to oversee filming activity. BFD receives an additional staff member to help offset the workload created by Warner Bros. in the Fire Prevention Bureau, and no longer has to schedule personnel for studio standby service each time a production occurs on the Warner Bros. Studio Facilities. Most importantly, the Fire Capt ain acts as a liaison between BFD, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Fire Department, and the staff of the numerous productions to streamline and coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders in support of filming activity.
The current First Amendment to the A greement expires on June 30, 202 5. A new one- year Agreement will be effective from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 (Attachment 1). The major terms of t he new Agreement have not changed from the original and its First Amendment except for term renewal. Upon mutual agreement, both parties can now extend the new Agreement for one additional year. If an extension is recommended by the Fire Chief, the City Manager is authorized to execute thi s extension without further action by the Council. Both BFD and Warner Bros. still have the option to opt out of the Agreement at any time with a three- month written notice. Should Warner Bros. exercise this option and/or decide not to pursue this Agreement after its expiration, BFD would reduce its staffing by one Fire Captain position or find an alternate source of funding for the position.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This report has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
3 FISCAL IMPACT
As specified in the new Agreement (Attachment 1), Warner Bros. has agreed to pay for the full cost of a Fire Captain, including all benefits as specified in the Burbank Fire Fighters’ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). For FY 2025-26 , the amount is $319,130.86. All future years' costs will be calculated each fiscal year and as MOUs are adopted.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the Council approves the new Agreement. The new Agreement is substantially similar to the previous agreement and provides that Warner Bros. will pay for a full-time Burbank Fire Captain, who will oversee the safety of each production on the Warner Bros. Studio Facilities and provide an enhanced communications link between the parties . BFD and Warner Bros. have worked well together for many years to successfully promote and enforce effective fire and life safety regulation standards. The approval of this Agreement will enable both parties to continue their collaborative working relationship as well as maintain efficient operations and communications.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Cooperative Fire Service Agreement between the City of Burbank and Warner Bros. Studio Operations