HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION NO. 2024-80RESOLUTION NO. 2024-80
A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
�VHLREAS, tlle City of Fairfax, Iowa makes posts on multiple social inedia sites
including: City's website, Faceboolc, Nixle, X(Twitter), and YouTube; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax, Iowa, has revised the attached Social Media Policy.
NOW, TI3EREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Fairfax,
Fairfax, Iowa, that they adopt the attaclled revised Social Media Policy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Fairfax City Council of the City of Fairfax, Iowa,
that the Mayor a�1d City Clerk/Treasurer are hereby directed to certify this resolution of approval.
Passed and approved this 8'�' day of October, 2024.
AYES: Nur7e, Daly, Wozniak, and Volk
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Wainwright
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Jo Ann Beer, Mayor
ATTEST:
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C thia K. Stimson, City Clerk/Treasurer
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Social Media Policy
Purpose
This policy sets forth guidelines for the establishment and use by the City of Fairfax of social media sites as a
means of conveying City of Fairfax information to the public. The intended purpose behind the use of City of
Fairfax social media sites is the disseminate information from the City, about the City, to promote City events
and the Civic Coalition and their events as well as area non-profits and their events to the public in a civil and
unbiased manner. The City may also make posts about businesses and organizations which are part of an
official City program, such as the Welcome Packet Program when authorized by the programs' rules.
The City of Fairfax has an overriding interest and expectation in deciding what is "spoken" on behalf of the City
on City social media sites. For the purposes of this policy, social media means any facility for online
publication and commentary, including without limitations, city's website, blogs, wikis, content hosting sites
such as Flickr and YouTube, and social networking sites such as Facebook, Linkedln, and X(Twitter). This
policy is in addition to and complements any existing or future City of Fairfax policies regarding the use of
technology, computers, smart phones, e-mail and the internet.
General Policy
1. The establishment and use by any City Department of City social media sites are subject to approval by
the City Council or mayor or City Clerk or his/her designees. All City of Fairfax social media sites shall
be administered by the Department Supervisor or his/her designees.
2. City social media sites shall make clear that they are maintained by the City of Fairfax. The City logo or
branding shall be used on all social media accounts to confirm authenticity of the site. City social
media accounts will only join a group or become a fan of a page if it is related to official City business,
services, and events.
3. Wherever possible, City social media sites should link back to the official City of Fairfax website for
forms, documents, online services and other information necessary to conduct business with the City
of Fairfax.
4. The Department Supervisor or his/her designees will monitor content on City social media sites to ,
ensure adherence to both the social media policy and the interest and goals of the City of Fairfax.
5. Users of all City social media shall adhere to applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and
policies.
6. The City reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of the City of
Fairfax social media policy or any applicable law. Any content removed based on these guidelines must
be retained by the Department Supervisor or his/her designees for a reasonable period of time,
including the time, date and identity of the poster, when available.
7. The City of Fairfax's website at http:�/www.citvoffairfax.org will remain the city's primary and
predominate Internet presence.
8. Freedom of Information Act and e-discovery laws and policies apply to social media content and
therefor content must be able to be managed, stored and retrieved to comply with these laws.
9. City of Fairfax social media sites are subject to State of lowa Public records laws. Any content
maintained in a social media format that is related to City business, including a list of subscribers and
posted communication, is a public record. The Department maintaining the site is responsible for
responding completely and accurately to any public records request for public records on social media.
Content related to City business shall be maintained in an accessible format pursuant to City policy and
practice so that it can be produced in response to a request. Whenever possible, such sites shall
clearly indicate that any articles and any other content posted or submitted for posting are subject to
public disclosure.
10. Employees representing the City of Fairfax via social media accounts must conduct themselves at all
times as a representative of the City of Fairfax. Employees that fail to conduct themselves in an
appropriate manner shall be subject to the Disciplinary Action Procedures outlined in the Personnel
Policy Manual.
Comment Policy
A comment posted by a member of the public on any City of Fairfax social media site is the opinion
of the commentator or poster only, and publication of a comment does not imply endorsement of,
or agreement by, the City of Fairfax, nor do such comments necessarily reflect the opinions or
policies of the City of Fairfax.
Comments containing any of the following inappropriate forms of content shall not be permitted
on City of Fairfax social media sites and are subject to removal and/ or restriction by the
Department Supervisor or his/her designees.
1. Comments not relate to the original topic;
2. Content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed,
color, sex, national origin, religion, age, sexuai orientation, gender identity, marital status
or mental or physical disability;
3. Defamatory or personal attacks;
4. Threats to any person or organization;
5. Comments in support of, or in opposition to, any political campaigns or ballot measures;
6. Solicitation of commerce, including but not limited to advertising of any business or
product for sale;
7. Conduct in violation of any federal, state of local law;
8. Encouragement of illegal activity;
9. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public
systems; or
10. Content that violates a legal ownership interest, such as a copyright, of any party.
3. The City of Fairfax reserves the right to deny access to City of Fairfax socia� media sites for any
individual who violates the City of Fairfax Communication P'olicy, at any time without prior notice.
The City reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of the
social medial policy or applicable law.
4. The following verbiage can be used to warn individuals about their content: "Your recent post is in
violation of the City of Fairfax Social Media Policy. Please refrain from posting inappropriate
content in the future, If you do not refrain from posting such content, we will block you from this
forum. Thank you for understanding."
5. Departments shall monitor their social media sites for comments requesting responses from the
City and for usage in violation of this policy.
Department Supervisor or their designees, shall determine how employees must identify
themselves when participating in the social media forum.
These guidelines must be displayed to users or made available by hyperlink.