City of Cheney Social Media Organizational Use and Terms of Use

The City has an interest in engaging, informing, and cultivating its stakeholder audience using traditional as well as new media. Social media has become one of the main channels of communication for many and is an excellent communication tool for public organizations. By leveraging social media as a primary communication tool, the City is engaging its residents on their terms and supporting its service goals.

The City uses social media for:

• City press releases, media, events, photos, job opportunities, project updates, and municipal-related interest news and resources.

The City does not share or post:

• Political advocacy information (endorsements) or crude, rude, offensive, or derogatory statements.

Organizational Use:

• It shall be the responsibility of the City Administrator, City Clerk and/or Department Heads to monitor all public comments on City social media sites.
• The City only monitors comments during business hours, and thus information conveyed after hours will not be received until the next business day.
• All public comments are subject to disclosure as public records
• No comment shall be removed from any city social media site that allows for public comment, unless that comment violates the provisions of a City Public Comment Policy.
• Any city social media site that allows for public comment shall be accompanied by a "Organizational and Terms of Use Policy" that includes, but is not limited to, the following provisions:

Terms of Use:

The City encourages a dialogue with our citizens regarding city services and related topics where communication and self-expression is made with respect and courtesy to others. As such, municipal site administrators will remove a comment if it violates the City’s terms of use:

• The City reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this policy, applicable law, or the city’s employee handbook. Any participant on a City Social Media Page or Department Social Media Page that repeatedly violates the commenting guidelines as set forth in this policy may be permanently removed from the City’s social media page(s). The City of Cheney reserves the right to temporarily or permanently suspend access to any page at any time.
• City social media articles containing any of the following forms of content shall not be allowed for posting and will be removed:
  • Comments not topically related to a particular issue or article being commented upon;
  • Photographs of employees or members of the public, without written permission;
  • Any personal, sensitive or confidential information about anyone;
  • Profane, obscene, uncivil, harassing, or inappropriate language or 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;
  • Comments that support or oppose political campaign or ballot measures;
  • Content that reflects negatively on the City, its employees, or public officials, unless such comment relates to a matter of public concern and is otherwise in compliance with the remaining provisions of this policy;
  • Defamatory remarks, personal attacks, or threats against any individual person or group of people;
  • Any content in violation of or inconsistent with federal, state, or local laws and ordinances;
  • Content that is repetitive or duplicative;
  • Sexual content or links to sexual content;
  • Solicitations of commerce;
  • Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity;
  • Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party; or
  • Any content not listed herein but that is otherwise inconsistent with the spirit of civility intended by these Terms of Use and Comment Policy.

Adopted by the Cheney City Council this 14th day of June, 2018.