Engage Champaign Terms of Use Policy

This website is intended for informational and public engagement purposes only.  If you wish to contact the City of Champaign, please visit the City’s official website at champaignil.gov or call 217-403-8700.

ALWAYS CALL 9-1-1 TO REPORT EMERGENCIES.
This site is not monitored by the City on a 24/7 basis.  Do not post warnings or notices regarding emergencies or urgent/dangerous situations on this site.

Public Content Policy

Projects on this website may or may not allow the public to post comments or otherwise add content to the website.  Where this site allows comments, it is considered a “limited public form” and the City may place reasonable restrictions in light of the purpose served by the forum.  This site is maintained and monitored by City staff but is not monitored 24/7.  The City is not obligated to respond to comments, content, or messages posted on or delivered through this website. Content shared by a member of the public is the opinion of that individual only, and does not imply the endorsement, agreement, or necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the City of Champaign. 

We ask the public to consider that this website may be viewed by children and other members of the public. Users are encouraged to refrain from profanity, personal attacks, bullying, or sharing inaccurate information. Comments posted on or through this website should generally relate to City business.

Relevant First Amendment caselaw allows the City to moderate certain public content posted on or through this website.  The following forms of content are not permitted on this City resource and are subject to review and possible removal by the City:

  1. Content containing actual defamation against a person, either as determined by a court or content that is patently defamatory by easily discovered facts.
  2. Threats which indicate an intent to commit an unlawful act of violence against an individual or group of individuals. 
  3. Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination in violation of the City of Champaign’s Human Rights Ordinance or applicable law, to the extent that such content does not constitute protected speech under the First Amendment. 
  4. Content with malware or malicious content (or links to the same) that can affect the normal functionality of a computer, mobile device, server, or browser.
  5. Content that contains a hyperlink to any website other than those controlled by the City of Champaign or another governmental entity. This will be done without regard to the viewpoint of the content containing such a link or the content of the site to which the link redirects.
  6. Advertising or promotion of a specific commercial business or enterprise. Posts that support Champaign businesses generally, welcome new businesses, and/or support local economic development and business expansion are permitted.
  7. Content containing personal information (e.g., birthdates, social security numbers, personal addresses, or phone numbers, etc.) or information the release of which violates another person or entity’s legal rights.
  8. Content containing obscenity, which is defined as sexually explicit and/or pornographic content that is patently offensive, appeals to prurient interest, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
  9. Profanity, as determined by the profanity filters offered through the platform. 
  10. Content that contains images or other content that violates the intellectual property rights or copyright of someone else, if the owner of said property/copyright notifies the City that the property was posted without their authorization. 
  11. Content promoting or encouraging violence or illegal activity. 
  12. Duplicate content posted repeatedly within a short period of time.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive. The City of Champaign respects constitutionally protected free speech, but reserves the right to remove content that is not protected speech under the First Amendment and relevant caselaw.  

Content Retention and Removal

When user content is shared on or through this website in violation of this Terms of Use Policy, a copy of the content will be archived pursuant to the City’s records retention policy, along with documentation of the reason why the content was hidden/removed. Once documented the content may be removed from the site. 

Records Retention

Content on this website is subject to the State of Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act.  With only certain limitations, content on or provided through this website are public records and subject to public disclosure. Illinois state law and relevant City record retention policy apply to this content.  As official City records, this content shall be preserved and retained in a format that preserves the integrity of the original record.  

Disclaimer

The City of Champaign reserves the right to update this Terms of Use Policy at any time.  The City of Champaign does not warrant or make representations or endorsements as to the quality, content, suitability, accuracy, or completeness of the information, text, images, video, graphics, hyperlinks, or other items contained on this website. Such materials have been compiled from a variety of sources and are subject to change without notice. The City’s primary and predominant Internet presence is the City’s official website at champaignil.gov, and no other website or social media site shall characterize itself as such.

Except to the extent required by law, commercial use of the materials on this site is prohibited without the prior written permission of the City. Some of the links on this website may lead to resources outside the control of the City of Champaign. The presence of these links should not be construed as an endorsement by the City of these sites or their content. The City is not responsible for the content of any such external site.

Except to the extent required by law, communications made through and on this website shall in no way be deemed to constitute legal notice to the City of Champaign or any of its agencies, officers, employees, agents, or representatives with respect to any existing or potential claim or cause of action against the City, it officers, employees, agents, or representatives where notice to the City is required by any federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations. 

Contact Information:

City of Champaign
City Manager’s Office
102 N Neil St.
Champaign, IL 61820
217-403-8710
citymanagersoffice@champaignil.gov