GUIDELINES FOR COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS USING CITY PLATFORMS (Do’s and Don’ts for Messaging)
1. If you submit photos as part of your message, make sure you have consent from the people featured in
the photos to the use of their image in any proposed communication.
If
consent is verbal, make a contemporaneous written record of such consent.
2. Send your
content and images together in a Word Document.
3. Be mindful of your audience and use communication as-needed rather than overloading them
with information they already receive in City’s monthly newsletter.
4. District messages should not be used for campaign or political purposes.
5. The
City will add a disclaimer to all Council communications substantially as follows:
"
Any opinion or position expressed in this message represent the individual opinion or position
of the individual Councilmember, and not the opinion or position of the City.”
6. Examples of appropriate content:
• Upcoming City organized events in your district
• New
businesses in your district opening
• Events you attended
• Experience had with community member
• FB
Live event you are hosting on your own social media channel • Date(s) for upcoming City Council actions of particular interest, including a brief (neutral) description of the nature of such action.
7. Examples of inappropriate content:
• How you intend to vote on pending quasi-judicial decisions. • Calls for action to oppose actions already taken by Council • Calls for support or opposition to a candidacy (including your own), ballot measure, or other policy outside the jurisdiction of the City • Statements critical of other elected officials, City staff or in any manner contrary to City
Ethics and Behavior policies.
8. These Guidelines
should also be considered by Councilmembers as guidance for their communications
relating to City business on their personal devices/platforms.