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HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectronic Message Board Content Policy City of Prior Lake Electronic Message Board Content Policy 1 ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD CONTENT POLICY April 2017 PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish consistent criteria for content posted on the City’s electronic message board(s). HISTORY In July 2012, the City installed a Downtown Entry monument in connection with Arcadia Avenue/CSAH 21 intersection improvements. The entry monument includes an electronic message board that will be managed by City Hall staff. This was the first electronic message board managed by the City. A second Downtown Entry monument with an electronic message board was installed in connection with the intersection improvements at TH13 and CR44/160th Street. POLICY It is the policy of the City of Prior Lake that the electronic message board be used to communicate City government news, programs or campaigns, events, meetings, public safety/traffic control notices, and community events sponsored by local non-profit organization, to the residents, businesses and visitors of Prior Lake. For-profit organizations hosting a community event may also submit a message request once their community event application has been approved. Examples of such news, program, events, meetings, and traffic control could include: • News: Watering Restrictions in Place; Please Conserve, No Wake Restrictions, awards received, Event Today – Slow for Pedestrians; VOTE TODAY. • Programs/Campaigns: Sign up for playground/tot lot programs today, Compost Site Now Open, Now Hiring Seasonal Workers; Sliding Hill Open; Buy Local! • City Sponsored Events: Family Beach Day Today at Sand Point, Lakefront Days, Spring-a-Ding, Concerts in the Park • Non-Profit Organization Community Events – PLAY sign up for summer T-Ball on April 14, Chamber Summer BBQ at Lunds on June 15, St. Mike’s AprilFest – April 21- 23, Soccer Sign Ups – May 1st, Laker Baseball Tonight! • For-Profit Organization Community Events (requires community event approval): Farmers Market on Main • Meetings: public information meetings, City Council meetings, Planning Commission meetings, public hearings. • Public Safety/Traffic Control: Event Today-Slow for Pedestrians; Detour Ahead; Road Closure at ___________. • Community Events: Promotions for individual, school, civic organization, or non-City sponsored fundraising or other events (Examples of such events include athletic tournaments or games, golf fundraisers, Chamber, Rotary, VFW or other non-profit community events, church events). City of Prior Lake Electronic Message Board Content Policy 2 EXCLUDED CONTENT The electronic message board is not to be used to display content that: • show preference for a political candidate, party or position whether local, regional, or national (Examples of excluded messages would include “Support Candidate “X” for State Representative (or other position); Vote “Yes” or “No” for School Referendum; positions of support or opposition to political platforms, such as tax breaks, health care reform, spending); or • are politically charged, discriminatory, or offensive (such as positions in support or opposition to gay marriage, abortion, military conflict, etc. or language that is lewd or suggestive); or • are religious in nature or advocates a particular religious belief. • Advertise or benefit private businesses (such as Business Grand Opening Today; $5 off wine specials at Business “X”; Visit Business “Y” Today!). Even though some of this content may be valuable to the community, the potential volume of requests, limitations of the technology, ordinance restrictions (in terms of frequency of messages), and commitment of staff time, require that content be restricted. PROCEDURE Message requests may be made by staff, and non-profit event organizations, and must be submitted in writing to the City’s Communications Coordinator. The Communications Coordinator will review the requests to determine whether the request meets policy guidelines. The Communications Coordinator may modify content of submitted requests in order to meet technical or policy requirements. In order to manage the number of messages posting at any given time, the City will adhere to the following guidelines: • Messages typically will be updated on a weekly basis. • Events may only be posted a maximum of 2 weeks prior to the event date. • No more than 10 messages will be scrolling at one time. ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS Operation of the electronic message board will conform to the City’s Electronic Message Sign ordinance subsection 1107.807. REVIEW This policy shall be reviewed periodically to determine its on-going applicability.