EXHIBIT 5-A
 
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Social Media Policy

 

  1. PURPOSE This policy establishes guidelines for the establishment and use by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (“District”) social media sites (including but not limited to Facebook and Twitter) as a means of conveying District information to its constituents. The intended purpose behind establishing District social media sites is to disseminate information from the District, about the District, to its constituents. The District has an overriding interest and expectation in deciding what is "spoken" on behalf of the District on its social media sites.
  2. DEFINITIONS 

a.     “Social media" is understood to be content created by individuals, using accessible, expandable, and upgradable publishing technologies, through and on the Internet. Examples of social media include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+, and Flickr, as well as various blog sites. 

b.    “Comments" include information, articles, pictures, videos or any other form of communicative content posted on a District social media site, either originating with the District or with a member of the public.

  1. POLICY

a.     The establishment and use of District social media sites by any employee are subject to approval by the General Manager or his designees. All District social media sites shall be administered by the Community Relations Liaison.

b.    The District’s social media sites should make clear that they are maintained by the District and that they follow the District’s Social Media Policy.

c.     The District’s websites (MPWMD.net, MontereyWaterinfo.org, etc.) will remain the District’s primary and predominant internet presences.

d.    Wherever possible, content posted to the District social media sites will also be available on the District’s main website.

e.     Wherever possible, content posted to the District’s social media sites should link back to the official District website for forms, documents, online services and other information necessary to conduct business with the District.

f.     All District social media sites shall adhere to applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies.

g.    District social media sites are subject to the California Public Records Act. Any content maintained in a social media format that is related to District business, including a list of subscribers, posted communication, and communication submitted for posting, may be a public record subject to public disclosure.

h.     All content will be retained by the Community Relations Liaison, or designee, according to District records retention policy. 

i.      The District reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this Social Media Policy or any applicable law.

j.      These guidelines must be displayed to users or made available by hyperlink.

  1. COMMENTS

a.     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 the District and members of the public.

b.    As a public entity, the District must abide by certain standards to serve all its constituents in a civil and unbiased manner.

c.     A comment posted by a member of the public on any District social media site is the opinion of the commentator or poster only, and publication of a comment does not imply endorsement of, or agreement by, the District, nor do such comments necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the District.

d.    District social media site articles and comments containing any of the following forms of content shall not be allowed:

                                          i.    Comments not topically related to the particular social medium article being commented upon;

                                         ii.    Comments in support of or opposition to political campaigns or ballot measures;

                                        iii.    Profane, obscene, violent or pornographic content and/or language;

                                        iv.    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;

                                         v.    Solicitations of commerce;

                                        vi.    Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity;

                                       vii.    Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems; or

                                      viii.    Content that violates a legal ownership interest, such as copyright, of any other party.

e.     Any content removed based on these guidelines must be retained, including the time, date and identity of the poster when available.

 

 

 

 

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