Politics & Government

City of Imperial Beach to Get Twitter Account

The addition of a Twitter account comes after the city updated its website in June.

The City of Imperial Beach will open a Twitter account soon, City Manager Gary Brown said at a Oct. 12 workshop meeting.

"We'll be twittering within a couple of weeks," he said

Following discussion of social media at a February meeting, the city began to explore social media policy which will be presented to the Council for approval soon, said Michelle Posada, who has headed the city's efforts to update their website and works with Brown.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The policy will determine the kinds of information that can or should be tweeted, she said. People should expect to see upcoming events, construction or street closures and other information on the city's Twitter account.

J Simms Advertising Agency, who runs the city's public relations, will publish tweets on the city's Twitter account, however if an emergency or natural disaster occurs, Posada said, the city may use Twitter as a means of communication with local residents.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We're taking baby steps in social media," she said. The city may reconsider and get a Facebook page in the future, but for now, it's only Twitter.

In other means of communication between the City of Imperial Beach and its residents, a feedback form was added to the website when it was updated in June. City news updates are sent out weekly instead of a quarterly newsletter.

The city has received good feedback from residents who get weekly updates, Brown said at the Oct. 12 meeting.

Mayor Jim Janney then asked if the city will do quarterly newsletters anymore.

"I think it's doubtful quarterly newsletters will be done anymore," Brown said, adding that it seems to be inadequate to people's needs.

Video on the city's website is still being explored, Posada said.

City Council meetings are now broadcast for Cox Communications customers Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. on Channel 24.


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