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Council adopts updated media context policy to centralize communications and council oversight
Summary
Council adopted an updated IC-11 media context policy to modernize how the city coordinates messaging with journalists, centralize staff support from the community relations office and designate the policy as a council-adopted compact for how council and staff engage media.
The City Council on June 17 adopted an updated media context policy (IC-11) intended to modernize how the city coordinates communications with news organizations and the public.
Linnea Lewis, the city's public information officer, told the council the current administrative policy is 26 years old and does not reflect the city's modern digital outreach; the updated policy clarifies that the community relations division will provide talking points, vet media outlets and help prepare councilmembers for interviews. Lewis said the policy also permits staff to pursue corrective outreach when inaccuracies appear in the press.
The policy was written as a City Council adoption rather than a city-manager-only administrative directive to make the standards a shared compact governing council/staff media interactions. Deputy City Manager Doug Drose explained the choice: "When it applies to the council, it's appropriate for the council to adopt that policy so that it becomes a city council policy," he said.
Councilmembers praised the proactive work of the communications team and emphasized the value of unified messaging as West Sacramento attracts broader attention. The council voted in favor of the policy by roll call and staff said the city will continue to refine outreach and the city website to support transparency and engagement.
Next steps: Staff will implement the policy, continue proactive outreach and provide council with talking points and media briefings as appropriate. Councilmembers asked staff to keep improving public-facing resources such as the new digital newsletter and project maps.
