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<br />Councilmember Wise asked who decides what language is offensive. <br /> <br />Management Intern Hendricks stated staff would make that determination. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated people already use the City web site and he does not support <br />Facebook because it involves social networking, the City would begin to regulate speech that one <br />may find offensive yet another not find offensive, it involves data practice issues, and would take <br />staff time. He noted that e-mail and other methods to communicate with the City are available. <br /> <br />Mayor Ramsey stated he suggested a City Facebook page because there was clear direction a <br />year ago that a better way was needed to communicate with residents and keep them informed. <br />In his opinion, there is no better way to communicate than Facebook. He noted the City's <br />website does not offer a way to converse with staff, except to send an e-mail and staff to respond, <br />which takes time. Mayor Ramsey stated if he is on Facebook, he can respond to reduce staff <br />involvement. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich reported on a seminar he attended that included a session on use of <br />Facebook, Twitter, and Y ouTube. He advised that a Burnsville survey found these options were <br />being used by 15 to 30 year olds who would not normally use the City's webpage. At the <br />seminar, consensus was that there is no problem legally with putting out information, the <br />question occurs when the user is allowed to return information. City Attorney Goodrich stated <br />one way to avoid a problem is to break down the site to allow comment only on certain topics <br />like streets, parks, or snowplowing but someone on staff will have to watch the site to make sure <br />lewd or profane comments are not posted. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated he would not object to posting information on multiple venues but <br />not to allow two-way communication or a blog site. <br /> <br />Mayor Ramsey agreed a Facebook page could be created to not allow comment and stated his <br />Facebook page could be shown on the City's page so he can accept comment and discuss issues <br />with residents. <br /> <br />Management Intern Hendricks stated staff can look at the option of creating a design box for the <br />Mayor's Facebook page so they can become a "friend." <br /> <br />Councilmember Wise stated he liked the ability to get younger residents involved and would <br />agree with the majority. However, he would like staff to quantify what is anticipated in staff <br />time to create and monitor the site and he remained worried that it will become a runaway <br />problem for staff <br /> <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated that using the page to get out information will improve <br />communication and may save staff time in the long run once staff gets in the process to post the <br />information and offer automatic information on projects or issues. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated his concern with allowing comment and who would determine <br />what constitutes pornography or free speech. He stated he does not want to spend any money to <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / February 9, 2010 <br />Page 2 of7 <br />