Bradenton Beach is moving toward rules governing how city employees communicate with the news media and use social media for municipal matters.
City commissioners reviewed a proposed 13-page media relations and social media policy Sept. 17, continuing an effort begun earlier this year to establish communication guidelines.
The proposal stems from concerns raised by Chief John Cosby, also the city’s public works director and, until Sept. 30, police chief.
“It seemed like everybody was talking to the press,” Cosby said during a meeting in May. He said the city needed a policy to coordinate media relations and procedures for employee social media use.
City attorney Erica Augello made the presentation.
Under the proposal, the mayor serves as the principal spokesperson for administrative matters unless the commission delegates the responsibility to a public information officer or another employee. Currently, only the police department has a designated PIO.
Department heads may share information about operations when authorized by the mayor.
The proposal states that only an authorized spokesperson can state the city’s official position but it does not prohibit employees from lawfully communicating with the media.
It specifically states the policy should not be interpreted as a prohibition against employees criticizing the city, public officials or government policy in their personal capacity, and it prohibits retaliation for protected speech.
The social media provisions address public records and moderation of comments on city accounts. Employees must preserve city-related records created or received through personal accounts or devices.
The city can moderate certain content, including spam, true threats and obscenity, but cannot restrict comments because they criticize the city, its officials, employees, policies or decisions.
The proposal is expected to return for commission consideration as an amendment to the personnel manual.
In other matters
- Commissioners unanimously adopted ordinance amendments for noise, vacation rentals and citations.
The noise ordinance amendment established a complaint-based enforcement process requiring use of a decibel meter.
Violators receive a 5-minute warning to come into compliance, with no additional warning required if one was issued to the violator or location within the previous 12 months.
The vacation-rental amendment established a “two-plus-two” occupancy formula, allowing two overnight occupants per bedroom plus two additional occupants.
Daytime visitors are permitted, but the total number of people at the property cannot exceed twice its permitted occupancy.
The amendment to the citation ordinance updated a schedule of civil penalties and allowed code and law enforcement officers to issue citations for ordinance violations.
