Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2, 2026

CouncilNotes is operated by SlabTech LLC. This policy explains what information the site collects, how we use it, and the choices you have. Questions? Contact us.

The short version

We turn public civic records into something readable. Most of the site is just public documents.
We keep lightweight first-party analytics that use no cookies and don't store your raw IP address.
We use Google Analytics and Google Ads, which do use cookies.
When you use chat, your question is sent to our AI provider to generate an answer, and we keep a copy of the conversation.
We do not sell your personal information.

Information we collect

Automatically, as you browse. Like most websites, our hosting and security provider (Cloudflare) and our web server record standard request data — your IP address, browser user-agent, the pages you request, and timestamps — for delivery, security, and abuse prevention. Separately, our own first-party analytics record which pages and documents are viewed, the referring site, a shortened browser user-agent, and the terms you search for. We count a visit using a one-way hash that is re-salted every day; we do not store your raw IP address, and this analytics layer sets no cookies.

Through Google cookies. We use Google Analytics 4 and Google Ads. These set cookies and process data such as your IP address, device and usage information, and ad interactions to measure traffic and ad performance and to show and measure ads (including remarketing). Google handles this data under the Google Privacy Policy.

Information you give us. If you use the contact form, we receive what you submit — an optional name, an optional email address, a topic, and your message. If you use chat, we receive the question you type, and we store the conversation — your questions and the answers you get — on our servers so the feature works and so we can review answer quality and improve the service.

How we use information

To operate, secure, and improve the site.
To understand which records and topics people are looking for.
To measure and improve our advertising.
To respond to messages you send us.

Cookies and similar technologies

Our own analytics use no cookies. Google Analytics and Google Ads do set cookies, as described above. A copy of your chat history is stored in your own browser (local storage) so you can revisit past conversations; you can clear it from your browser at any time. Clearing your browser does not delete the copy of the conversation stored on our servers.

Who we share information with

We do not sell your personal information. We rely on a small number of service providers to run the site:

Google — analytics and advertising.
OpenAI — processes chat questions to generate answers.
Cloudflare — content delivery and security.
Resend — delivers contact-form notifications to us.

We may also disclose information if required by law.

Your choices

Personalized Google ads: adjust or opt out at Google Ad Settings.
Google Analytics: install the opt-out browser add-on.
Cookies generally: use your browser's controls to block or delete cookies, and turn on "Do Not Track" if you wish.
Contact submissions: email us to ask us to delete a message you sent.

We do not sell your personal information, including as "sale" or "sharing" is defined under California law.

Data retention

Analytics are kept in limited, largely aggregate form for trend analysis. Chat conversations are kept for as long as we need them to operate and improve the service. Contact-form messages are kept until we have handled them and they are no longer needed.

Children

CouncilNotes is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site evolves. The "Last updated" date above reflects the most recent change.

Contact

CouncilNotes is a service of SlabTech LLC. To reach us, use our contact page.