§ 2-230.14. Policy

(a) All City social media sites shall be: 

1) Approved by the City Manager or his designee: and 

2) Published using social media platform and tools approved by the Information Technology Department (“IT”). 

(b) The official posting for the City will be done by the Public Information Officer or their designee. 

(c) Departments have the option of allowing employees to participate in existing social media sites as part of their job duties, or allowing employees to create social media sites as part of their job duties. Department Heads may allow or disallow employee participation in any social media activities in their departments. 

(d) All City social media sites shall adhere to applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and policies including the Public Records Law, Public Records retention schedules, Open Meeting Law, Copyright Law and other applicable City policies. 

(e) Public Records Law and e-discovery laws and policies apply to social media content. Accordingly, such content must be able to be managed, stored and retrieved to comply with these laws. Furthermore, once such content is posted on a social media site, it should stay posted, unless it is removed for one of the reasons set forth below in paragraph (K) 1-12, or it is changed to fix spelling or grammar errors. 

(f) All social media sites and entries shall clearly indicate that any content posted or submitted is subject to public disclosure. 

(g) Each City social media site shall include an introductory statement which clearly specifies the purpose and scope of the social media/network site. Where possible, social media sites should link back to the official City of Lake Wales Internet site for forms, documents and other information. 

(h) Each City social media site shall indicate to users that the site is subject to a third party’s website Terms of Service. Furthermore, each City social media site shall indicate that: the social media site provider could collect personal information through user’s use of the social media site; and that this personal information may be disseminated by the third party; and that such dissemination may not be governed or limited by any state, federal or local law or policy applicable to the City. 

(I) All social media sites shall clearly indicate they are maintained by the City of Lake Wales and shall have the City contact information prominently displayed. 

(j) The City reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this policy or any applicable law. 

(k) City social media content and comments containing any of the following forms of content shall not be allowed for posting: 

1) Comments or content not typically related to the particular site or blog article being commented upon; 

2) Profane, obscene, or vulgar language or content; 

3) Comments or content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability, maternity leave, genetic information, or active military status; 

4) Comments or content that is threatening or harassing; 

5) Sexual comments, content, or links to sexual content; 

6) Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity; 

7) Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;

8) Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party; 

9) Protected health information; 

10) Personal information; or 

11) Other information that is not public record or is otherwise privileged from public disclosure. 

12) Sharing any content from an elected official’s social media page(s).

(l) All City social media moderators shall be trained regarding the terms of this policy, including their responsibilities to review content submitted for posting to ensure compliance with the policy. 

(m) Where appropriate, City IT security and/or computer use policies shall apply to all social media sites and articles. 

(n) Employees representing the City via social media sites must conduct themselves at all times as a representative of the City and in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations, and policies (including personnel policies) of the City. 

(o) No City or department social media site can endorse or otherwise cite (either with approval or disapproval) vendors, suppliers, clients, citizens, co-workers or other stakeholders. 

(p) Employees found in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. 
 

(Ord. No. 2019-06, § 1, 4-3-19)