Social Media & Public Outreach Content Guidelines

Social Media & Public Outreach Policy

This Policy establishes guidelines to ensure the use of social media, print media, and website updates on behalf of the City of Avalon (“City”) is consistent with the City’s mission, values, and vision. Social media and other forms of public outreach methods are utilized as a means of conveying information to its residents, visitors, and business community about the City and its projects, programs, and activities.

To address the fast-changing landscape of technology and the way community members, communicate and obtain information, City departments may consider using social media, the City alert system, City website, and other tools to reach a broader audience. The City encourages the use of social media to further the goals of the City and the missions of its departments, where appropriate.

To ensure maximum effect of a public outreach campaign, the use of social media should not preclude the use of other means of public education and outreach. Additional tools include public meetings, mailers, publicly posted flyers, participation in community events, press releases, and the utilization of other print media.

The City intends to establish multiple forums and forms of public outreach with the purpose to disseminate information from the City, about the City and for the benefit of the City, its residents, visitors, and business community.

The City respects the legal rights of its employees. With a few exceptions, what employees do on their own time, not acting in their official City capacity, is not governed by this Policy. However, online activities at work or online activities outside of work that affect employee job performance, the performance of others, the legal rights of others, the privacy rights of others, and the operational and confidentiality interests of the City, are a proper focus for this Policy, and can be subject to the City of Avalon Personnel Rules and Regulations.

City employees, officers, and designated contractors can reference this policy as a guideline for personal use of social media. The City finds that statements on personal social media pages, accounts or sites that impair discipline by superiors or harmony among coworkers, such as by discussing or promoting political views, political organizations, candidates for office, or ballot initiatives, have a detrimental impact on the working relationships, loyalty and confidence necessary for City business and operations. City employees, officers, and designated contractors are advised that the City perceives such statements on personal social media pages, accounts or sites as contrary to the efficient and effective operation of the City and discourages such comments. 

Furthermore, technology or devices that are property of the City and issued to City employees, officers, or designated contractors may be monitored and the City discourages posting, publishing or making such statements on personal social media pages, accounts or sites with City-owned technology or devices. Due to the personal nature of our community and the desire to build community relations, direct contact between City officials, staff and community members is encouraged. Conversations are preferred to replies to social media posts.

The City has an overriding interest and expectation in protecting the information posted on its social media sites and the content that is attributed to the City and its officials.

Comment Guidelines

The City disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any materials that the City deems inappropriate for posting which cannot be removed in an expeditious or otherwise timely manner. The City reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this policy or any applicable law. Any articles, messages, posts, comments, images, video or other content containing any of the following shall not be allowed and may be removed as soon as possible:

1. Comments not topically related to the particular article or post being commented on;
2. Comments in support of or opposition to political campaigns or ballot measures;
3. Profane language or content;
4. Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation;
5. Sexual content or links to sexual content;
6. Solicitations of commerce and other commercial speech;
7. Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity;
8. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public, public systems, or employees; or
9. Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party;
10. Any link or direction to another site that contains content referenced by the forgoing restrictions.

Complete Policy

View the entire Social Media and Public Outreach Policy (PDF).