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Council adopts updated policy manual with new social‑media guidance after heated debate
Summary
The council approved revisions to the city’s policy manual covering disruptions, decorum, complaint processes and social‑media guidance. Members agreed to remove or soften requirements that council members only repost official city material and clarified how 'likes' or reactions relate to Brown Act concerns.
City Attorney Colin Burns presented a package of proposed updates to the council’s policies March 17 that included procedures for handling disruptions, a disruption‑of‑service rule (SB 707 compliance), recommended decorum language, social‑media guidance for elected officials, complaint and enforcement processes, and guidance on council members’ access to the city attorney.
The council’s most extensive discussion focused on proposed social‑media language. One draft sentence would have required council members’ posts about upcoming official business to be a share of the official city post and to avoid offering an opinion. Several council members, led by Councilwoman Constantine and Vice Mayor Harper, argued that requirement could be unduly restrictive and might chill First Amendment activity. They asked to delete the part requiring shares only and to clarify that reactions (‘likes,’ ‘love,’ etc.) to another elected official’s post could raise Brown Act concerns only in narrow circumstances.
Colin Burns said the recommended language was intended to prevent inadvertent Brown Act violations and to keep public messaging consistent. Council also discussed limits on council members’ direct access to the city attorney and whether periodic budgetary reporting could provide oversight without impeding access.
Council asked staff to make two edits discussed on the dais: remove the mandatory 'share only' language in the social‑media section and clarify the prohibition on 'liking' or reacting to posts applies only to interactions with other elected officials on matters within the council’s jurisdiction. The council then voted to adopt the revised policy manual as amended (item 6 passed 5–0).
