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Lake Stevens council weighs social‑media options amid public‑records concerns
Summary
Council discussed options for councilmember social‑media pages after staff warned that allowing comments on official pages raises Washington Public Records Act and litigation risks. The mayor directed staff to return with a policy and costed options for city‑managed, archiveable council pages.
Lake Stevens council spent a lengthy portion of their meeting debating how council members should use Facebook and similar platforms, with staff and council members weighing constituent engagement against public‑records obligations.
A staff presenter summarized the central legal and practical problem: opening comments on council or councilmember pages can create public‑records retention obligations and expose the city to legal risk. The meeting cited guidance and court activity…
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