DATE: October 20, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Administrative Policy No. 82 - Social Media
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and Adopt Administrative Policy No. 82 - Social Media
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will adopt Administrative Policy No. 82 - Social Media. The purpose of the Administrative Policy (AP) is to provide a clear structure for the County’s use of social media accounts as a public communication tool to support the mission, programs, services, operations, and public outreach responsibilities of the County of Fresno. The AP would authorize the County Administrative Officer (CAO) to oversee official countywide social media accounts, and would hold department heads responsible for administration and oversight of department specific social media accounts ensuring compliance with this AP. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to approve AP 82 - Social Media, in which case the County would not have a formal countywide administrative policy establishing the authorization and oversight framework for official County and department-specific social media accounts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the Recommended Action. Implementation of the AP will be accomplished within existing County resources.
DISCUSSION:
Approval of the Recommended Action will implement this new AP, which establishes a Countywide framework for how the County and its departments establish, administer, and oversee official social media accounts.
The purpose of the AP is to provide a clear structure for the County’s use of social media as a public communication tool. The policy recognizes that social media is an important way for the County and its departments to communicate information about County programs, services, operations, and public outreach, while also establishing appropriate oversight of those accounts.
Under the AP, your Board is being asked to authorize the CAO to develop, implement, and maintain administrative procedures governing official countywide social media accounts on behalf of the County. The AP would provide a process for County departments to establish department-specific Official Social Media Accounts, subject to CAO approval and oversight. The policy does not apply to departments headed by elected officials unless those offices voluntarily adopt the policy.
Department heads will be responsible for the administration and oversight of their department’s official social media accounts and for ensuring that those accounts comply with the AP, associated procedures, and applicable laws including First Amendment protections, California Public Records Act requirements, and applicable labor and employment laws. The AP also makes clear that it is not intended to restrict lawful off-duty conduct or protected speech.
Your Board’s approval to AP 82, will establish the County’s framework for official social media accounts, and provides the foundation for administrative procedures that will establish the operational requirements for managing official County social media accounts going forward.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Administrative Policy No. 82 - Social Media
CAO ANALYST:
George Uc