18.2.3 Privacy Disclaimer
The City of Sumner operates and maintains its social media sites as a public service to provide information about City programs, services, projects, issues, events and activities. The City of Sumner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies these Social Media sites may contain and does not guarantee that the Social Media sites will be uninterrupted, permanent, or error‐free.
The City of Sumner has no control over a site’s privacy policy or their modifications to it. The City of Sumner also has no control over content, commercial advertisements, or other postings produced by the social media site that appear on the City of Sumner social media site as part of the site’s environment.
18.2.4 Elected Official Social Media Policy
The City recognizes that elected officials may desire to utilize social media to engage their constituents. The city council has adopted a resolution outlining the use, regulation, retention and disclosure of social media platforms utilized by elected officials in their capacity as elected officials.
18.2.5 Prohibited Content
The City of Sumner welcomes dialogue with the public. Although we encourage posts and comments on City of Sumner Social Media sites, these sites are limited public forums and are moderated by City staff. All posted content (comments, photos, links, etc.) must be related to the topic at hand. The following are prohibited on City of Sumner Social Media sites:
a. Comments not topically related to the particular post being commented upon;
b. Posts and comments seeking to utilize City resources to promote a personal cause or commercial sales endeavor outside community-building events and efforts as outlined in the City of Sumner event process;
c. Political statements, including comments that endorse or oppose political candidates or ballot propositions, are prohibited under state law (RCW 42.52.180);
d. Posts and comments that promote, foster or perpetuate discrimination on the basis of creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation;
e. Posts and comments that include vulgar, offensive, threatening or harassing language, personal attacks or unsupported accusations; or that encourage or is anticipated to incite violence;
f. Obscene or sexual content or links to obscene or sexual content;
g. Illegal activity or encouragement of illegal activity;
h. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;
i. Posting of personal identity information;
j. Solicitation of funds for a private cause, such as a Go Fund Me campaign or other, that may be fraudulent;
k. Comments from children under 13 cannot be posted in order to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. By posting on a City social media site, users acknowledge that they are at least 13 years old. Those 12 years old or younger may e‐mail the City instead;
j. Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party; or
k. Anonymous posts.
The City of Sumner reserves the right to remove posted content that does not comply with these Policies. All posts and comments uploaded to City of Sumner Social Media sites that allow posts will be periodically reviewed. All posts and comments are public records subject to public disclosure under the Public Records Act.
Communications made through City of Sumner Social Media sites in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to the City of Sumner. (For example, a post or comment that asks for public records will not be considered a public records request under RCW 42.56.) Social media posts are a courtesy and do not replace the City’s official notification process through its paper of public record. To comment about a specific city project or program, please contact the appropriate City department.
From City of Sumner Interim Personnel Policy, effective November 9, 2020