HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION NO. 2015-89 RESOLUTION NO. 2015-89
RESOLUTION APPROVING SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
WHEREAS,the City of Fairfax has information that needs to be communicated to
residents; and
WHEREAS, residents use a variety of communication formats; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax wishes to establish a policy to guide staff and
residents while using the City's communication processes.
WHEREAS, staff is recommending adoption of the following social media policy:
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
in-formation from the City, about the City,to the public in a civil and unbiased manner.
The City of Fairfax has an overriding interest and expectation in deciding what is
spoken7 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, Linked1n, and 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.
S. 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.cityoffairfax.or2 will remain the
city's primary and predominate Internet presence.
S. 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 Iowa 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
1. 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.
2. 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..
a. Comments not relate to the original topic;
b. Content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the
basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, sexual
orientation, gender identity, marital status or mental or physical
disability,
c. Defamatory or personal attacks;
d. Threats to any person or organization;
e. Comments in support of,or in opposition to, any political
campaigns or ballot measures;
Solicitation of commerce, including but not limited to advertising
of any business or product for sale;
g. Conduct in violation of any federal, state of local law;
h. Encouragement of illegal activity;
i. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of
the public or public systems; or
j. 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 social
media sites for any individual who violates the City of Fairfax
Communication Policy, 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.
b. 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.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of
Fairfax, Iowa,that the Social.Media Policy as shown above is hereby adopted.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,by the City Council of the City of Fairfax,
Iowa, that the Mayor and City Clerk/Treasurer are hereby authorized and directed to
execute this resolution.
Passed and approved this 13"'day of October, 2015.
AYES: Otto, Frieden, and Beer
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Magers and Wainwright
Jason Mabe, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Cy hia Stimson, City Clerk r-easurer r
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