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CR2002-123 Web site link policy G \ T Y OF ~ . July 12,2002 HOPKINS Council Report 2002-123 WEB SITE LINK POLICY Proposed Action Staff recommends adopting the following motion: Approval of Resolution 2002-69. adopting a City of Hopkins Web Site Link Policy. Overview In 1999, the City launched the City's official Web Site w\v\v.hopkinmn.com. The primary service of the web site is to provide information about the City's programs, services and amenities. While the primary service is provided to the City's residents, property owners and businesses, staff recognizes the responsibility to provide visitors to the site with accurate and current infonl1ation about all aspects of the community. Providing users with information about educational, cultural and recreational activities in the community necessitates the need to provide links to other organizations and agencies. Providing links to other organizations and agencies can have some negative and potentially dangerous ramifications. Links to other sites requires users to leave the City's site. Even though the user has left the City's site, they tend to associate the links found on the City site as sites controlled by, suppOJied by or advocated by the City. The City cannot endorse or control the material contained in third party web sites. A Web Site Link Policy defining what is and what is not an acceptable link for the City's web . site, is long overdue. Quite often outside organizations request a link on the City's Web Site. Because the City does not have a Link Policy, legally staff cannot reject requests. Staff has reviewed policies from other Cities and Counties as well as reviewed the suggested guidelines provided by the League of Minnesota Cities and included a draft of a Link Policy tailored to meet the community's needs. Primary issues to consider I. Is it appropriate to have links on the City's Web Site? 'J Will this policy apply to the Pavilion's, the HCA's, The Activity Center's, the Depot's and the Overpass's pages? If so, what will this mean to them? 3. What are some examples of links that will be accepted and tbose that will not? 4. Are we violating any security issues by providing links to other organizations? 5. Has legal council reviewed tbe policy? SU1>porting Information . Draft of the Web Site Link Policy . Resolution NO 2002-69 . Financial Impact: $NA Budget: NA Source: NA Related Documents: NA . Primary Issues to Consider . Is it appropriate to ba,'e Jinks on the City's Web Site? Including links on the City's site is appropriate and sometimes necessary. Omitting links from the City's site is not practical because it does not make full use of the medium. Not only does the drafted policy allow for links to non profit, community organizations, but it also allows links to organizations that provide information relevant to the information provided by the City. For instance, on the inspection pages it is often necessary to direct the visitors to other sites that provide more detailed information about a particular topic. Some links may include the State Building Codes Division or the National Association of Home Builders. . Will this policy apply to the Pavilion's, the ReA's, the Activity Center's, the Depot's and the Overpass's pages? If so what will this mean to them? Yes, the drafted policy will apply to all of the pages ofthe City's Official Web Site, the above facilities included. What that means for them, is that they will not be allowed to offer a link on the City's Web Site as a benefit to their profit, commercial patrons. . W'hat are some examples of links that will be accepted and those that will not? Some of theses links are already on the web site, others have requested a link. Some examples of links that will be accepted include: The Hopkins Business and Civic Assoc. The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce The Westwind Concert Band . Hopkins Area Jaycees Some examples of organizations that will not be allowed a link include: Minnetonka Rotary TruRide C&D Models, Inc. Lake Minnetonka Online . Are we violating any security issues by prodding links to other organizations? The fear that users will be able to "hack" into our site through the unsecured sites that we have provide links to, is not true. If someone can hack into the City's site it is because of the holes that already exist not because of the holes that exist in linked sites. . Has legal council reviewed the policy? Legal council has reviewed the draft. The two main concerns were that the policy remains neutral on all viewpoints and that the policy state who has the right to remove the links that violate the policy. Wynn Curtis reviewed the final draft (draft included) of the policy and has approved it. . Draft . POLICY 3-F WEB LINK POLICY 1. LINK POLICY 1.01 The plimary service of the City of Hopkins Web Site is to provide information about the City's programs, services and amenities. While the primary service is to the City's residents, propeliy owners and I businesses the City recognizes its responsibility to provide visitors to its site with accurate and current infonnation about all aspects of the community. Providing users with information about educational, cultural and recreational activities in the community necessitates the need to provide links to other organizations and agencies. Access to these sites requires the user to leave the City's site. Links that require the user to leave the City's official site, are not owned, regularly reviewed or controlled by the City of Hopkins. The City does not endorse or recommend the viewpoints, material or products contained in third party web sites, unless otherwise noted. 1.02 It is the City's policy to limit links only to . . Government sites, non profit organizations or academic institution sites that provide infonnation relevant to programs and services provided by the City of Hopkins . Human service organizations that receive direct financial support from the City . The publication designated as the City's Official newspaper 1.03 The City will not provide links to extemal sites that . Promote illegal activities . Market or sell a particular product or service . Are political or religious in nature . Function as a public forum . Contain information violating the City's municipality's equal opportunity policies 1.04 The City Manager or designee is authorized to order removal of links which violate the adopted policy. . , . City of Hopkins Hennepin County .Minnesota RESOLUTION NO 2002-69 City's Web Site Link Policy WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Hopkins has approved a document entitled the City of Hopkins Web Site Link Policy to provide uniform and fair criteria regarding requests for third paIty links on the City's Official Web Site www.hopkinsmn.colll and \VHEREAS, the city Council of the City of Hopkins agrees a link policy is necessary and appropriate WHEREAS, revisions to this policy may be implemented by resolution of the Hopkins City Council and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hopkins hereby adopts the attached Legislative Policy 3-F. . Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins on this 16th day of July. 2002. By Eugene Maxwell. Mayor ATTEST: Terry Obelmaier , City Clerk .