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Gladstone adopts new social media use and moderation policy after debate, 6–1
Summary
Councilors approved Resolution 12-56 to replace the prior social media policy and allow official city accounts to permit comments with moderation rules. City attorney emphasized viewpoint neutrality; councilors questioned staff burden and removal procedures. Vote passed 6–1.
The Gladstone City Council voted 6–1 to adopt Resolution 12-56, updating the city’s social media use and moderation policy and repealing the previous policy (Resolution 11-16).
City Administrator Betts told the council the city’s prior policy was a decade old and staff updated social media guidance to align with a newly developed communications guide. The new policy allows city departments to establish official accounts (with administrator approval), requires trained and authorized users to post, and permits public comments with a moderation framework. Betts said staff recommends adopting the policy to encourage engagement while protecting city systems.
City Attorney Chad Jacobs told the council the policy aims to create a limited public forum and must follow “viewpoint neutrality,” meaning the city may restrict comments based on topic rather than viewpoint. Jacobs explained that the city may remove comments that are off-topic, threatening, obscene, discriminatory or otherwise fall outside the scope of city business, but should be careful to apply rules uniformly.
Councilors pressed staff on details. Councilor LaBonte said he was “less confident voting yes” and asked whether allowing comments has produced burdens in other cities. Concerned members asked how removals would be handled and whether the city retained deleted comments for public‑records purposes; Jacobs said retention depends on the city’s records-retention policy and that many cities use backup services to capture social-media content for retention.
Councilor Huckabee, who moved the resolution, emphasized that automated filters and staff training can reduce the moderation burden. After discussion and assurances that staff would monitor pilot accounts and report back if problems develop, the council approved Resolution 12-56 on a roll call vote, with Councilor LaBonte casting the lone no vote.
The adopted policy allows comments on city accounts but lists specific categories for removal and requires staff notification to users before removal when practicable. Staff said they will post clear guidelines on the city website and on social platforms and will monitor the pilot program; the council said it may amend the policy if monitoring shows it is unworkable.
