The policy applies to both personal and professional accounts, Deputy City Manager Don Magner said at an Oct. 5 meeting. A separate policy is in place for city employees, he added.
The purpose is to protect the city’s reputation, outline what is considered confidential and establish proper ways to engage with others, Magner said. While the city respects the First Amendment rights of its officials, upholding a professional image is essential in maintaining the trust of constituents, he said.
“We realize that social media is a valuable communication tool and community engagement strategy when used properly,” he said.
Some best practices outlined in the policy include separating personal and professional social media accounts so content related to city matters is not intermingled with personal posts, exercising caution when commenting on other accounts or websites, and refraining from language that shows favoritism or bias for any individual or group.
The policy also asks elected and appointed officials to be honest and accurate when posting or sharing information.
Council Member Bob Dubey said the timing of the policy was appropriate given the nation’s tense political climate.
“We are in a political time of year; it’s really important that the message is out there,” he said.
Council is scheduled to vote on the policy, which goes into effect after adoption, at a Nov. 2 meeting. More information on the policy can be found in this slideshow presentation.
