Columbia Falls City Council authorized a 90‑day communications consulting contract the council said will expand the city’s presence on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and support a DUI‑awareness campaign funded in part by a STEP grant. City Manager described the consultant as Lauren Manley and said the fee will be covered from the administration budget and grant education dollars.

Councilors asked whether the work would create a standard social‑media policy for staff or assign a particular employee to manage city accounts. The manager said the consultant will help create both a social‑media policy and a consistent rhythm for city posts, and that the contract will offer separate guidance for the police department and the fire department to mirror as appropriate.

A motion to authorize the manager to execute the contract with the vendor named in the motion (recorded in minutes as "Maven ops") for $4,500 for 90 days was made and seconded and passed on roll call. Councilors recorded votes of “aye” during the roll call; the motion carried. The manager said staff will return with integration steps and timelines for implementation.

Details the council discussed but did not finalize include the precise posting schedule, which city accounts will be primary, and whether the consultant will perform any substantive website redesign (the manager said website changes are not a primary part of this contract).