A Quiet Guide to Municipal Communication Essentials

These definitions are steady, simple, and meant to help leaders understand what each communication item does in the real world. None of this is legal advice; just practical clarity.

Routine Updates

Community Notice
A short message that tells residents something routine is happening — no urgency, just information.

Meeting Reminder
A simple, predictable reminder of an upcoming council meeting, board meeting, or public session.

Service Hours Update
Confirms when an office, department, or program is open or closed for the day or week.

Operational Announcements

Road Closure Notice
Explains where the closure is, why it’s happening, and how long the impact will last.

Utility Maintenance Update
Lets residents know that water, gas, or electrical work is planned and may cause brief service interruptions.

Program Launch Announcement
Introduces a new service, initiative, or resource the city is offering.

Community Safety Messages

Advisory
A heads-up. It’s not an emergency — residents just need to be aware of something.

Alert
More urgent than an advisory. Used when something may disrupt normal activity but isn’t life-threatening.

Public Safety Update
A factual, steady reminder from police, fire, or emergency services about an ongoing situation.

Leadership Communications

Mayor’s Message
A brief, public-facing note offering clarity, reassurance, or explanation on behalf of the administration.

Council Update
A concise summary of decisions, votes, or discussions that matter to residents.

Department Statement
A formal, plain-language explanation from a specific department about an action or event.

Crisis Calm-Language Tools

Holding Statement
A short message confirming awareness of an unfolding situation, shared while details are still being gathered.

Status Update
A simple confirmation of what’s known, what’s being done, and when the next update will come.

All-Clear Notice
Tells residents when an issue has been resolved and normal activity can resume.

Transparency & Trust Signals

FAQ Sheet
A straightforward explanation of common questions around a program, policy, or event.

Budget Snapshot
A simplified, visual summary showing how funds are allocated — not the full budget document.

Community Sentiment Check
A small message asking residents for feedback, surveys, or input about a local topic.