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Commissioner Rich asked about what a social media policy entails. Todd McGee said <br /> that you have to plan for how you will use social media before you get involved. The <br /> worst thing you can do is start a Twitter feed or Facebook page, update it like crazy for <br /> a month, and then forget about it. A plan would identify appropriate channels to use <br /> and who would be responsible for keeping them updated. Consider whether you have <br /> countywide accounts/pages or whether individual departments may have them. <br /> Consider whether to use the county seal on all — it is a great branding opportunity. <br /> Consider whether you allow public comments, and if so, what do you do with them. <br /> Twitter should be updated at least 2-3 times per week. You may get away with <br /> updating Facebook only 1-2 per week. Remember you can use social media to push <br /> notifications. More than 50% of mobile phone users have Facebook on their phones. <br /> A notification about a tornado, for example, could be put on a county Facebook page <br /> and pushed to all those phones. <br /> This concluded Todd McGee's presentation. <br /> B. Discussion/Plan Outline (Todd McGee & Rod Visser) <br /> Rod Visser drew the Board's attention to the stated objective for this portion of the <br /> retreat - that the Board review and discuss a County Strategic Communications Plan <br /> outline and provide direction to staff. He explained the context within which the <br /> objective for this segment of the retreat agenda was developed by the retreat planning <br /> committee. The consensus view was to look at this topic today "at the 30,000 foot <br /> level" and not to get "too far down in the weeds" with the level of detail today. It did not <br /> seem feasible to try to sit down and write a strategic communications plan in 1.5 —2 <br /> hours. <br /> Rod Visser said that the challenge the committee gave to Michael Talbert was to craft <br /> the outline of a strategic communication plan and to list the basic elements that should <br /> be included in that framework. He did that and included it as Attachment 2a on pages <br /> 14-15 of the retreat agenda packet. The packet also includes sample communications <br /> plans at Attachments 2c through 2f that Michael Talbert researched, from four <br /> jurisdictions: Hickory, NC; Clayton, MO; Red Wing, MN; and Prince William County, VA. <br /> The agenda packet also includes at Attachment 2b a 1999 proposed Orange County <br /> Board of Commissioners Strategic Communications Plan. <br /> Rod Visser asked Commissioners in light of those four sample plans, any independent <br /> research they may have done, Todd McGee's presentation, and the 1999 plan, what <br /> reactions do they have to the outline Michael Talbert drafted. He said that during the <br /> retreat planning meetings, Michael Talbert had suggested desirable next steps of <br /> putting together a County Communications Team to work on fleshing out the details of <br /> the framework. That team might include County staff from various departments who <br /> are already involved in public information and outreach efforts. The idea would be for <br /> the Manager to work with that group to bring back a fully fleshed out strategic <br /> communications plan along an established timeline for the Board to approve and <br /> implement. <br /> Michael Talbert added that there are several communications principles listed in today's <br /> packet that the communications team would keep the Board abreast of. Not only would <br /> the team develop the plan, but after implementation they would monitor it and develop <br /> changes needed as social media and technology changes, bringing it back perhaps <br />