Board extends film-office MOU; county highlights $30 million Gold Mountain production and local spending

The Board of Supervisors approved a one-year extension of the memorandum of understanding with the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce to provide film-officer services and directed staff to explore alternative program structures, fee alignments and funding avenues.

Karen Garner, director of Planning and Building, highlighted the Gold Mountain production — directed by Ang Lee — which she said had “about a $30,000,000 budget” and drew an extras casting of more than 1,000 people. Garner also said the production spent roughly $500,000 at Burko Lumber for set construction and used local hotels, restaurants and service providers, noting the county’s goal to retain more room nights locally.

Supervisor Parlin and others praised Kathleen Dodge, the county’s film commissioner, for her long-standing role connecting productions to local businesses and recommended succession planning and closer economic-development support. Board members asked staff to examine whether fee collection could be improved when productions occur on private or city-owned property and to refine data collection on local spending.

The motion to approve the revised MOU and extend its term passed by voice vote, recorded as 4–0 with one supervisor absent. Staff emphasized that the MOU and permit updates better capture activity and fees for county-owned property but that some productions on private or municipal property continue to generate benefits that the county currently does not directly fee-capture.