City staff: promotion limited to city-sponsored events under state rules

City promotions staff told the Community Engagement Commission on March 19 that state ethics and resource‑use rules limit what city resources can promote. The staff presentation said city employees must not use state resources to promote private organizations or activities that are not city‑sponsored.

The presenter referenced WAC 292-110-101 and related RCW language on the use of state resources and private gain. He summarized the city’s interpretation: city resources may be used to promote city‑sponsored events and city co‑sponsored events (for example, city‑run library programs, police department events and activities on city‑owned parks and facilities), but not private events that occur off city property. He said, however, the city can promote off‑site events when the city is a formal co‑sponsor or when 100% of proceeds directly benefit city programs.

"By state law, I am bound to promote city hall sponsored activities, city hall co sponsored activities," the promotions staff member said. He gave examples the commission had previously asked about: the Friends of the Library book sale (on city property and benefiting library programs) would appear on the city poster, while events held at private venues without city co‑sponsorship would not.

Staff described a practical three‑tier approach to determine poster inclusion: (1) city‑sponsored or co‑sponsored events, (2) events on city property that are open and free to the public, and (3) events not on city property that nevertheless give 100% of proceeds to city programs. The presenter said he prefers to include the full spring‑to‑August schedule on one poster when practical but noted space and scheduling constraints.

Commissioners asked about options for community boards or unofficial promotion and staff said the commission could consider creative, legally permissible approaches that do not use city resources for private promotion. No change in city policy was enacted at the meeting.