FCPG creates ad hoc committee for social media policy

A special meeting of the Fallbrook Community Planning Group created an ad hoc committee to provide a policy for social media use involving official planning group matters.

The planning group voted 15-0 June 7 to create the ad hoc committee and to have Roy Moosa chair that committee. Moosa was given the authority to appoint members of the committee. A potential recommendation will be brought to the planning group at the June 21 regular meeting.

"We want only good information to go to the public," said planning group chair Jack Wood.

The May 17 planning group meeting included a vote to provide the county's Department of Parks and Recreation with two preferred names for the new park on Fallbrook Street. Planning group Parks and Recreation Public Facilities Committee meetings and County Service Area No. 81 meetings (CSA No. 81 covers parks in Fallbrook, DeLuz, and Rainbow) included input on the proposed name. "We already had 600 suggestions," said planning group member Eileen Delaney.

One of the other planning group members conducted a social media poll seeking input for the preferred park name. That poll had not previously been discussed by the planning group. The consensus of those 135 respondents differed from other recommendations.

"Instances have occurred that have caused people to make improper determinations," Wood said.

"That is exactly why we're doing what we're doing tonight," Delaney said.

The planning group's executive committee called the June 7 special meeting. "Our agenda item tonight is simply to create the ad hoc committee," Wood said.

In July 2013, the North County Fire Protection District adopted a social media policy which addresses both official NCFPD social media sites and personal use of social media involving NCFPD matters. Jeff Egkan is currently a member of the NCFPD board and encouraged the planning group to incorporate social media into planning group policy.

"They probably don't address the changes of new technology and the advantage of new technology," Egkan said. "I would really like to see those updated."

The social media policy is not intended to censor opinions or prevent sharing of information. "We just need to have some control on what's being released and how it should be released," Wood said.

"All we're simply trying to do is clarify," Wood said. "This is strictly a matter of communication for the community."

Because no member of the public, including a planning group member acting as an individual and not claiming to represent the planning group, will be prohibited from social media activity involving planning group matters the ad hoc committee does not need to involve anyone who is not on the planning group. "This is a planning group issue," Wood said.

Input from the public will be allowed, but the ad hoc committee members themselves will be planning group members.

Members of the public will also be able to provide input when the board considers actual adoption of a social media policy. "I'd like to see our community in this," said planning group member Tom Harrington.

"These guidelines being developed will provide another avenue to reach the public," Moosa said.

"We are not under mandate to create a Facebook page or a website. We're doing it for the interest of the community," Wood said.

"Social media and websites and all that are very important, so we're working on that," Delaney said.

"I view making that information more well known as the best I can do to educate the public," said planning group member Ross Pike.

A policy would also designate authorized planning group members to address information. "I am not saying that everything has to go through me," Wood said. "It's simply controlling the information that's flowing out."