Agenda Item Title:
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City Council Office Staff requesting the City Council adopt a Social Media Policy
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Presenter:
Liz Theriault, Sr. Policy and Communications Analyst
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Description/Background:
This item was presented to the City Council as an informational item on February 25, 2025. Attached is the redlined version of the policy that adds in Council Member suggestions from the Feb. 25th Council Meeting.
In 2020, Council Staff created Sandy City Council’s own social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (now known as X). As a separate branch of our City’s government, the Sandy City Council developed independent social media pages to deliver valuable, accurate, and timely news and other information as it relates to the Council and/or Council Members and ultimately enhance communication between this legislative body and its constituents.
Currently, the City Council does not have a formal social media policy. Because of this, all content creation and engagement has been done at the discretion of Council Office Staff. The practices outlined in this policy are consistent with the current procedures staff follow when creating, posting, and sharing content on social media-this policy simply formalizes the process.
Office Staff have been working on the creation of a policy for some time, and thought the creation of Sandy City’s new communication plan of “Connect, Create, Protect” provided a practical opportunity to bring forward this policy. The purpose of this policy is to establish a structured framework for the use of social media, providing clarity on what is appropriate and in the best interest of the Council. By setting clear guidelines, this policy aims to ensure that all communications are professional, accurate, and effective in enhancing civic engagement.
Additionally, this policy will support staff by offering a transparent set of expectations and procedures, fostering consistency in social media practices, and providing a fou...
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