City of Bloomington Social Media Use Policy

Purpose
General
Social media standards

Purpose

To address the fast-changing landscape of the Internet and the way residents communicate and obtain information online, City of Bloomington employees may consider using social media tools to reach a broader audience. The City encourages the use of social media to further the goals of the City and the missions of its employees, where appropriate. Our policy is not to allow blogs or comments on blogs. See Internet-based Collaboration Tools Standards for definitions of social media types that are allowed.

The City of Bloomington has an overriding interest and expectation in deciding what is "spoken" on behalf of the City on social media sites. This policy establishes guidelines for the use of social media.

General

All City of Bloomington social media sites posted by employees will be subject to approval by the City Manager who may delegate this review function to the Communications Administrator.
The City of Bloomington's website (www.ci.bloomington.mn.us) will remain the City's primary and predominant Internet presence.
1. The best, most appropriate City of Bloomington uses of social media tools fall generally into two categories:
  1. As channels for disseminating time-sensitive information as quickly as possible (example: emergency information).
  2. As marketing/promotional channels which increase the City's ability to broadcast its messages to the widest possible audience.
2. Wherever possible, content posted to City of Bloomington social media sites will also be available on the City's main website.
3. Wherever possible, content posted to City of Bloomington social media sites should contain links directing users back to the City's official website for in-depth information, forms, documents or online services necessary to conduct business with the City of Bloomington.
All City of Bloomington social media sites shall comply with all appropriate City of Bloomington policies and standards, including but not limited to:
1. End User Security Policy – Contact Information Systems at 952-563-4885 for more information.
2. Web Presentation and Accessibility Standards
3. Online Privacy and Security Policy
City of Bloomington social media sites shall comply with City of Bloomington policies and administrative rules.
City of Bloomington social media sites are subject to State of Minnesota public records laws. Any content maintained in a social media format that is related to City business, including a list of subscribers and posted communication, is a public record. The Department maintaining the site is responsible for responding completely and accurately to any public records request for public records on social media. Content related to City business shall be maintained in an accessible format and so that it can be produced in response to a request (see the City of Bloomington Facebook and Video standards). Wherever possible, such sites shall clearly indicate that any articles and any other content posted or submitted for posting are subject to public disclosure. Users shall be notified that public disclosure requests must be directed to the relevant departmental public disclosure officer.
Minnesota state law and relevant City of Bloomington records retention schedules apply to social media formats and social media content. Unless otherwise addressed in a specific social media standards document, the Department maintaining a site shall preserve records required to be maintained pursuant to a relevant records retention schedule for the required retention period on a City server in a format that preserves the integrity of the original record and is easily accessible. Appropriate retention formats for specific social media tools are detailed in the City of Bloomington Facebook and Video standards.
Users and visitors to social media sites shall be notified that the intended purpose of the site is to serve as a mechanism for communication between City employees and members of the public. City of Bloomington social media site articles and comments containing any of the following forms of content shall not be allowed:
1. Comments not topically related to the particular social medium article being commented upon;
2. Comments in support of or opposition to political campaigns or ballot measures;
3. Profane language or content;
4. Content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation;
5. Sexual content or links to sexual content;
6. Solicitations of commerce;
7. Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity;
8. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems; or
9. Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party.
10. Any harassing comments.
These guidelines must be displayed to users or made available by hyperlink. Any content removed based on these guidelines must be retained, including the time, date and identity of the poster when available (see the City of Bloomington Facebook and Video standards).
The City reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this social media policy or any applicable law.
The City will approach the use of social media tools as consistently as possible, enterprise-wide.
All new social media tools proposed for City use will be approved by the City Manager, Communications Administrator and the appropriate department's manager.
Administration of City of Bloomington social media sites.
1. The Core Web Team/Communications staff will maintain a list of social media tools which are approved for use by City departments and staff.
2. Communications staff will maintain a list of all City of Bloomington social media sites, including login and password information. Departmental public information officers will inform Communications staff of any new social media sites or administrative changes to existing sites.
3. The City must be able to immediately edit or remove content from social media sites.
4. The Communications Administrator, City Manager and Department Heads may monitor content on each of the social media sites to ensure adherence to the Social Media Policy for appropriate use, message and branding consistent with the goals of City of Bloomington.
5. Violation of these standards may result in the removal of pages from social media outlets. The Communications Administrator retains the authority to remove information.
For each social media tool approved for use by the City the following documentation will be developed and adopted:
1. Operational and use guidelines.
2. Standards and processes for managing accounts on social media sites.
3. City and departmental branding standards.
4. Enterprise-wide design standards.
5. Standards for the administration of social media sites.

Social media standards

The following social media tools have been approved for use by the City of Bloomington:

For more information, contact:

Janine Hill, Communications Administrator
PH: 952-563-8819; TTY: 952-563-8740, FAX: 952-563-8715
E-mail: jhill@ci.bloomington.mn.us

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