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Wasco council approves social media policy framework, forms ad hoc committee to finalize language
Summary
The Wasco City Council voted to approve a draft set of social media policies and authorized the city manager and a two-member ad hoc committee to finalize language addressing discipline and First Amendment concerns.
The Wasco City Council approved a resolution to adopt a draft social media policy framework and authorized the city manager and an ad hoc committee to finalize and implement the policies.
Council action came after staff presented three draft policy exhibits covering elected and appointed officials, staff and volunteers, and public comments on official city social media sites. City Manager Scott Horvath told the council staff had reviewed examples from other cities and worked with city attorneys to develop the drafts.
Council concerns and next steps Councilmembers raised several points they wanted clarified before final publication: how disciplinary mechanisms would apply to elected officials, how the city would respect First Amendment protections when moderating public comments on city pages, and a specific wording correction in the draft packet (the packet uses the phrase "protected by law or company policy" which council asked be changed to "city policy"). Councilmembers Martinez and Reyna volunteered to serve on an ad hoc committee to work with the city manager and city attorney to produce final policy language.
Implementation authority The resolution authorizes the city manager, or the manager’s designee, to finalize and implement the policies after attorney review and any adjustments from the ad hoc committee. Staff said the communications and IT staff would carry the day-to-day responsibility for the city’s social media presence.
What the council directed - City Manager and City Attorney to work with an ad hoc committee (Councilmember Martinez and Councilmember Reyna) to finalize disciplinary language and First Amendment safeguards. - Make a wording change requested by council on the draft document ("company policy" → "city policy").
Ending Council recorded the motion as unanimously approved; staff will return a final version for publication or proceed under the delegated finalization authority depending on the ad hoc committee’s recommendation.
