Parker council holds workshop and directs communications committee to scope social media presence

City leaders spent the June 2 workshop exploring whether and how Parker should establish an official social media presence, with staff and council members weighing reach, legal risk and staffing requirements.

City staff said social platforms could meet residents where they are and help the city share timely updates, but warned it demands dedicated staff time and attention to public‑information and records rules. "Some of the challenges that come along with that, of course, there's gonna be staff time, especially if we want to do it right," staff told the council.

Several council members argued a presence is necessary to reach residents who do not visit the city website. One council member argued for an open, participatory approach: "If we don't communicate through that medium, then we might as well transmit it via telegraph," the member said, urging an active presence to keep residents informed and correct misinformation.

Counsel warned that interactive features can create a public forum with legal and records‑retention consequences. Members suggested a conservative phased rollout: begin with a single platform (the majority favored Facebook) and consider contractors, apprenticeships or part‑time hires rather than immediately expanding staff headcount.

Outcome: the council asked Colleen (staff) to research Facebook setup rules and return information at a future meeting and agreed the communications committee will oversee the phased rollout. No formal policy was adopted; the workshop produced a direction to continue planning.

Why it matters: Establishing a social channel will change how the city communicates, raise legal and open‑records questions, and require ongoing staffing or contractual commitments.