Page 22 - 2025 Communications Plan

remarks

The Public Information Officer, with assistance as needed from other City departments, is responsible
for the creation of remarks (also known internally as ‘talking points’ or ‘event scripts’) for elected
officials when they are speaking in person on behalf of the City at a City-sponsored or sanctioned event.
The remarks are crafted to fit the tone, cadence, vernacular, and presentation style of each elected
official, and can be created as a formal script (read word-for-word) or summarized into bullet points or
keywords for the speaker to use for improvisational delivery. The format of the remarks is determined
in advance of the event according to the speaker’s presentation style and personal preferences.

Councilmember speaking engagements that are NOT City-sponsored or sanctioned, and speaking on
behalf of the City, and regarding City business, require a a formal request for assistance that must be
submitted to the City Manager’s Office with sufficient details about the event, the organization, and
the purpose/intent of the content that will be presented. If any visual aids are required, these must
be requested at the time of project initiation. Requests for visual aids must be made through the City
Clerk’s Office a minimum of one week in advance of the speaking engagement. Turnaround time may
take up to one month if extensive remarks or presentation materials are requested.

Staff assistance for speech preparation for official City business is available to Councilmembers. Such
assistance shall be requested of the Public Information Officer by the City Clerk’s Office. The outline
of issues to be covered, as well as available supporting material, is to be provided by the requesting
Councilmember, and adequate advance notice for the due date shall be provided. The Public Information
Officer shall resolve with the City Manager’s Office any conflicts regarding such requests. Approved
exceptions are listed in Legislative Policy 1.03.

Remarks must be created and performed in adherence to AP 2.04 and Ordinance 2.04.007.