HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES-CC-2022-15MOAB CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 1.5-2022
A RESOLUTION OF THE MOAB CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING A
SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE POLICY
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Utah Code Ann. Subsection 10-3-717(1) authorizes the City of Moab Council
to exercise all administrative powers by resolution, including the adoption of policies to govern
the actions of municipal personnel and the use and operation of municipal property: and
WHEREAS, the Political Activities of Public Entities Act (the "Act"), Utah Code Ann. §
:20A-11-1201, et seq., prohibits the use of public funds on certain electoral and other matters on a
public entity's website; and
WHEREAS, the Moab City Council intends to adopt a social media policy to establish
terms of use for its social media platforms, ensure compliance with the Act, and otherwise ensure
that Moab's social media accounts are used appropriately for governmental purposes and general
welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Moab City Council has determined that the social media policy attached
is resolution will serve the best interests of the City of Moab and the public..
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Moab City Council that it
approves the following as official Moab social media accounts:
City of Moab
The City of Moab's webpage (lttps:r'°rrcaabcit .or
Facebook page
Twitter account (https://t
lnstagrarn account (htt
YouTu.be channel (nips:,`. votrtrabe,,com M
Moab Police Department
Facebook:(https://www.facebooLcom`moabpolice/
Twitter: (https://ter itter.coni-c :nl ahpolice_)
Moab Arts & Recreation Center
Facebook: (https:/!=wrr w.fhcehook cc rn/ trc
1nstag?ram: (http oaharts
Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center
Facebook: (https .'`wwti, facehoc,k..c ni'f lod
Moab Recreation
Facebook: (hops: fwv:s\ reel ak.ce n 'ivl t
I he ` of Moab designates the Communications and l n a event Mlana er to he the
moderator and administrator for each of; Moab's official social media larttorms untiC such
titrre as the City Manager designates another moderator or administrator,
2, The City of Moab's hearing officer is designated as the appeal authority for decisions the
moderator and administrator make regarding Moalcr's social media accounts pursuant to
this social media policy; and
The social media policy T rill he posted tc the "it) of Moab*s website and social media
accounts and the City's elected or appointed officials, personnel, and agents are instructed
and authorized to take any necessary steps to implement the police,
[execution on following page — remainder of this page left bank it terrtior
APPROVED AND ADOPTED in Moab, Utah, this 10th day of May 2022,
A F1EST
son
/Recorder
R
Tawn d. Mayor Pro Tenn
CITY OF MOAB
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Adopted May 10, 2022
SECTION I -- DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall apply for the purposes of this policy:
1. "Appeal authority" means the appeal officer designated by the Council to hear appeals
under this policy, provided that the appeal authority may not be the Moderator.
2. "City" or "Moab" means the City of Moab.
3. "City Manager" means the appointed official known as the City Manager of Moab.
4. "Comments or Posts" means any comment, photo, link, or other material posted to a section
of a social media account.
5. "Council" means the Moab City Council.
6. "Egregious violation" means a comment made to a social media account that expressly or
implicitly threatens the safety of the public or any person.
7. "GRAMA" means the Government Records Access and Management Act, Title 63G,
Chapter 2, Utah Code, or the applicable successor statute.
8. "May" means a permissive action.
9. "Mayor" means the Mayor of the City of Moab.
10. "Moderator" means the person the City Manager has authorized to moderate and
administer any official Moab social media account.
1 1 . "Official" means the Mayor and Moab City Council members.
12. "Personnel" means:
a. Any member of a City of Moab board, commission, or committee;
b. Any employee, contractor, or other agent duly authorized to carry out official City
of Moab business; or
c. Any volunteer engaged in official City of Moab business.
13. "Platforms" means technologies and systems that allow writers and other media producers,
readers, and consumers of media to interface more efficiently.
14. "Policy" means this social media policy.
15. "Shall" means an action that is mandatory or required.
16. "Social Media Account" means any platform that enables users to create and share content
or to participate in social media, networking, interfacing, or communicating, including
social media and social networking services, web feeds, blogs, wikis, photo sharing,
podcasting, social bookmarking, mashups, widgets, virtual worlds, and micro-blogs.
17. "Terms" means the terms of use set forth in Section V of this policy.
18. "User" means any person or entity who uses a City of Moab social media account.
SECTION II — PURPOSE
The City of Moab is authorized to use social media accounts at its discretion pursuant to
this policy to provide pertinent public information to Moab residents and other interested members
of the general public.
SECTION III — SCOPE
1. Applicability: This Policy applies to all circumstances where a social media account is
owned, controlled, or otherwise managed by the City of Moab, through its personnel, or
any city department, division, committee, commission, or board, including but not limited
to any social media account used by any official to conduct City business, even if
conducting City business is not the sole purpose of the account.
2. Exclusions: Except as provided in Section V, paragraph 11, this Policy does not apply to
purely personal or other social media accounts owned or controlled by:
a. City personnel in their personal or private capacity;
b. City elected officials in their personal or private capacity, including but not limited
to any campaign election or re-election account owned and controlled by a
campaign election or re-election committee or person campaigning for public
office.
SECTION IV — CITY MANAGER APPROVAL REQUIRED
The City Manager shall first authorize all official Moab social media accounts before the
account is created and operated. In authorizing any social media account, the City Manager shall
determine how the social media account is to be published and administered, including if public
commentary is allowed. The City Manager or Moderator may also close a Moab social media
account at any time without notice.
SECTION V — TERMS OF USE
The following terms and time, place, manner restrictions apply to any official Moab social
media account if the City Manager has permitted public commentary.
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1. General: Moab's social media accounts are intended to promote open, healthy, and non -
abusive public discourse conducive to orderly government.
2. No Discrimination: Moab shall not discriminate based on viewpoint or authorship, even if
anonymous, that expresses any opinion about Moab's official action, policy, custom, or
practice. Comments and posts may not be flagged, minimized, or removed, and no user
may be blocked, so long as the comment or post complies with the Terms.
3. Acceptance of Terms: Users who access or use an official Moab social media account
accept and agree to follow, without limitation:
a. The rules of conduct for comments and posts, including time, place, manner
restrictions set forth in paragraph 4 of this Article V;
b. Any terms of use required by the social media platform provider, over whose terms
of use, content, commercial advertisements or other postings Moab has no control;
and
c. Moab's right to modify the Terms and this Policy, which changes shall become
effective upon their posting to the applicable social media account.
4. Rules of Conduct: Any comment or post shall relate to discussion of Moab programs,
services, projects, issues, events, or activities. Neither Moab nor its personnel may edit
comments or posts to official Moab social medial accounts. However, Moab may withhold
or remove comments or posts that do not relate to Moab business or that:
a. Promote, foster, or perpetuate discrimination based on race, creed, color, age,
religion, gender, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual
orientation, gender identity, or that otherwise encourage discrimination in violation
of applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, or policies;
b. Include slanderous or defamatory statements against any person, including but not
limited to Moab personnel;
c. Threaten, harass, or use obscene, indecent, or profane language or content;
d. Include obscene or sexual content, or links to obscene or sexual content, including
indecent or pornographic material;
e. Solicit commerce or advertisements including promotions or endorsements;
f. Promote or condone illegal conduct or activity;
g. Promulgate spam that include links to external online sites;
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h. Violate a legal ownership interest of any person, including the improper use of a
trademark or copyrighted material;
i. Promote, endorse, or oppose the candidacy of any person, petition, or referendum
or otherwise violate applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to
the Political Activities of Public Entities Act, Utah Code Ann. § 20A-11-1201, et
seq.,
j.
Include fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading information;
k. May compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;
1. Threaten public safety personnel;
m. Disclose private, protected, or confidential material as defined by state or federal
laws and regulations or Moab ordinance or policy; or
n. Include commercial advertisements for any non -governmental purpose.
5. Use of Photographs: Moab shall not post photographs on its social media sites:
a. For which is does not have the copyright or the owner's permission to use;
b. If the photograph involves one minor, prior to permission obtained from the minor's
parent or guardian; or
c. If the photograph involves multiple children engaged in a public event, unless
permission is given as a condition of participation or there is no expectation of
privacy.
6. Violations of the Terms: The Moderator shall comply with the following when withholding
or removing comments or posts that violate the Terms:
a. When a user has violated the Terms, the Moderator shall contact the social media
user through direct messaging or other available means, describe the violation, and
request voluntary removal or edit of the comment or post.
b. If the user fails to voluntarily remove or edit the comment or post, the Moderator
may minimize or withhold the comment or post.
c. Before withholding or removing a comment or post, a copy shall be retained (e.g.,
through a screen shot, etc.) by the Moderator.
d. If a comment or post is withheld or removed, the Moderator shall notify the user
through a direct message or other available means that includes (i) a copy of the
comment or post in question, (ii) an explanation as to why the comment or post
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violates this Policy, (iii) a statement that voluntary removal or edit was requested;
and (iv) an explanation that the user may appeal the Moderator's decision pursuant
to paragraph (9) of this Article V, including the appeal authority's email address.
7. Blocking and Reinstating Users:
a. If the Moderator determines the user has violated the Terms on three (3) separate
occasions, the Moderator may block the user from making public comments or
posts on all applicable Moab social media accounts by notifying the user through
direct message or other available means that:
i. The user is blocked pursuant to this Policy, including an explanation why
and specific references to the user's applicable prior violations; and
ii. The user may appeal Moab's decision to block the user by sending an email
within five business days to the appeal authority, explaining in reasonable
detail why the user contends the decision is improper; and
iii. The appeal authority's email address.
b. The user who has been blocked may submit a written request to the Moderator
requesting reinstatement after a period of one year has expired from the date the
user was blocked or, if appealed, the date the decision to block the user was upheld.
The Moderator may approve the request if (i) the Moderator has reason to believe
the user shall abide by the Terms, and (ii) the user signs a written statement (a)
agreeing to abide by the Terms and (b) acknowledging that subsequent violations
of the Terms could result in a permanent ban that prohibits the user from
participating at any future time in applicable Moab social media accounts.
c. If the Moderator denies the user's request, the Moderator shall provide a written
explanation for the basis of the denial. A user may appeal a denial to the appeal
authority pursuant to the process in paragraph 7(a)(ii).
d. If a user is reinstated under paragraph 7(b) and is subsequently found to have
violated the Terms, even if on one occurrence, the Moderator shall block the user
from all applicable social media accounts. The Moderator shall comply with the
notice requirements of paragraph 6(a) and appeal rights under paragraph 7(c) of
pursuant to the time restrictions and process set forth in paragraph 7(a)(ii). A user
blocked under this paragraph 7(d) may request reinstatement after a period of three
years following the date the user was blocked or, if appealed, the date the action
was upheld.
8. Egregious Violations: The Moderator may immediately remove any comment or post that
constitutes an Egregious Violation and may, in the Moderator's discretion, immediately
block the user from any future comments or posts for such an egregious violation, pursuant
to paragraph 7(a). A user blocked for an Egregious Violation may request reinstatement
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pursuant to paragraph 7 (b) and may appeal the denial of a request for reinstatement
pursuant to paragraph 7 (c).
9. Appeals:
a. If a user exercises the user's right to appeal pursuant to paragraphs 7 (a), (b), or (d),
the appeal authority's review shall be limited to the user's comments or actions in
question, the Moderator's decision, the applicable terms violated, and the user's
appeal, provided that the appeal authority may ask the Moderator to prepare a
response directly to the user's appeal.
b. The user filing an appeal bears the burden of proof and shall show by a
preponderance of the evidence that the Moderator's decision is arbitrary,
capricious, or unlawful.
c. If the appeal authority does not uphold the Moderator's actions, the appeal authority
may order that the pertinent comment or post be restored to public view or that user
be reinstated.
d. The appeal authority shall issue a written decision and notify the user of the
decision via email as soon as is reasonably practicable with findings and
conclusions regarding the grant or denial of the appeal.
e. Any decision by the appeal authority shall constitute a final agency action that may
be appealed to the district court pursuant to applicable Utah law.
10. Posting of Policy: All sections of Moab's social media accounts that allow comments or
posts shall include a link to this Policy and a link to the Moab website for original content,
forms, documents, and other information.
11. Social Media Use by Personnel: Moab personnel should not use personal social network
accounts, user IDs, or email accounts when commenting in their official capacity on Moab
social media accounts or when otherwise conducting official Moab business on non- Moab
social media accounts. Any personnel representing Moab on any social media account shall
conduct themselves at all times as a representative of Moab and in a manner that is
professional, exhibits proper decorum, complies with the Terms, and is conducive to
orderly government. Conversely, Moab personnel should not use their Moab user [Ds or
Moab email accounts when acting in their personal capacity on non -Moab social media
accounts or otherwise conducting personal business.
SECTION VI —GRAMA
1. Public Records: Comments posted to Moab's social media accounts are considered public
records subject to public disclosure under GRAMA to the extent they do not contain
information that discloses private, protected, or confidential material or information.
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2. Retention: Moab shall ensure that social media account records are property retained and
classified pursuant to GRAMA and any other applicable laws, regulations, or policies. Any
comments or posts that are removed and information regarding blocked users shall be
considered public records and shall be preserved pursuant to GRAMA.
3. Moderator Responsibilities: Any Moderator who removes a comment or post or blocks a
user's access shall preserve records of the removal or blocked user for any applicable
retention period in a format (e.g., a screen shot) that preserves the integrity of the original
record and is easily accessible.
4. Comments Not Considered GRAMA Request. A comment or post requesting a public
record may not be considered a records request under GRAMA.
SECTION VII — SECURITY
Moab shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that its social media accounts are secure
from accidental or intentional attacks. Passwords should be adequately complex to prevent
cyberattacks and should not be sent through email. If a cyberattack is suspected for a social media
account, the Moderator shall immediately notify the Council and all applicable personnel.
SECTION VIII — ENFORCEMENT
Any Moab personnel found to have knowingly violated this Policy may be subject to
disciplinary action pursuant to all applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
SECTION IX — DISCLAIMERS
Moderators shall post in a prominent location on all Moab social media accounts a link to
this Policy and the following disclaimers:
1. Comments are Public Records: Comments posted to Moab's social media accounts are
considered public records and may be subject to public disclosure under GRAMA.
2. Opinions Expressed Are Not Necessarily Those of Moab: Any comment posted by users
on Moab's social media accounts is the opinion of the user and does not necessarily reflect
the opinion or policy of Moab or its elected officials, personnel, agents, commissions,
boards, or committees.
3. No Guarantee of Accurateness: Moab does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of
any information posted on its social media accounts.
4. No Liability: Neither Moab nor its personnel are liable for any injury or damages resulting
from viewing, distributing, or copying materials posted to Moab's social media accounts,
including without limitation, liability for indirect, special, incidental, or consequential
damages.
5. No Legal Notice: Any comment made to Moab's social media accounts does not constitute
legal notice or official notice or comment by Moab or its personnel and shall not be
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regarded as a request for Moab to provide service or take any action. If a dangerous
condition exists, users are advised to contact the police or fire departments, the applicable
public utility, or other relevant department or personnel.
6. No Response Required: Any comment posted to Moab's social media accounts does not
require a response from Moab or its personnel.
7. Outside Links: Moab's social media accounts may contain links to websites and other
accounts that Moab and its personnel do not own or control. Moab is not responsible for
any content that appears on those websites or accounts and provides links to those websites
and accounts for convenience only.
8. Compliance with Terms Required: Any user shall comply with this Policy, including the
Terms, as an express condition of participation in Moab's social media accounts. Moab
reserves the right to withhold, remove, mute, or delete information posted by a user that
violates the Terms. Repeated or egregious violations of Moab's social media policy may
result in denial of access to all applicable Moab social media accounts. Any threats to
public safety or persons shall be immediately removed and reported to the applicable public
safety authorities.
SECTION X — MOAB LOGO
1. Official Use of Logo for External Communications: To the extent possible, the Moab logo
may be used on all official Moab external communications, including letters, newsletters,
press releases, invitations, flyers, posters, signage, websites, social media pages, and any
item requiring a symbol of identity.
2. Use of Logo for Private Purposes: The Moab logo may not be used by any Moab personnel
for personal communications or uses, including personal social media accounts.
3. Use of Logo by Outside Entities: The City of Moab logo may not be used by any outside
entity without the City Manager's prior written consent.
SECTION XI — EDUCATION
The Communications and Engagement Manager and/or the Moab City Manager shall
ensure that those personnel that work with social media understand this Policy. The Moab City
Manager may delegate to others the responsibility of training personnel on this Policy.
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