Columbia Falls approves 90-day communications contract to expand social media, run DUI campaign

The Columbia Falls City Council on a voice/roll-call vote authorized the city manager to execute a 90-day communications consulting contract worth $4,500 with Maven Ops to establish and expand the city’s social media presence and run a DUI awareness campaign.

City Manager (who introduced the item) told the council the contract is intended to “increase transparency and communication with the public” and described a plan to set standards for the city’s accounts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and to coordinate some messaging with the police department. The manager said part of the cost would be covered by a STEP grant that also funds DUI enforcement and related education.

The consultant Lauren Manley attended the meeting and has proposed separate social-media approaches for the city and the police department, the manager said. The contract was presented as a 90-day pilot focused on setting a communications rhythm, creating a social-media policy, and producing a short DUI-awareness campaign tied to recent grant funding.

Councilors asked whether the consultant would create a social-media standard or a single assigned employee to run accounts; the manager said both: the contract includes a social-media policy and staff guidance, and the city manager’s office will assign responsibility for ongoing posting. The council did not direct changes to the city website as part of the contract but was told the new website planned for January–February will integrate more closely with social media platforms.

The motion to authorize the manager to execute the contract was moved and seconded and passed on roll call. Councilor Price, Councilor Robinson, Councilor Piper and Mayor Barnhart recorded “aye” during the roll call; the motion summary recorded the approval as passed.