Privacy Policy

  1. Purpose and Scope.  This Privacy Policy explains how the City of Mission Hills, Kansas (the “City”) collects, uses, shares, and safeguards personal information in connection with City services, permitting, and the City’s official website located at https://www.missionhillsks.gov/ (the “Site”). It applies to residents, contractors, vendors, permit applicants, event participants, and other individuals who interact with the City or the Site.

For questions about this Policy or the City’s data practices: info@missionhillsks.gov 

  1. Definitions 

Personal Information means information, whether in paper or digital form, that identifies or can reasonably be linked to an identified person. This may include names, contact information, account identifiers, government identifiers collected for specific applications, IP addresses, and certain device or online identifiers. 

Non-identifiable Information means information that does not identify and cannot reasonably be linked to an identified person.

  1. Websites and Services Covered 

City Website and Hosting: The Site is managed through CivicPlus. 

Permitting and Licensing: The City uses Open Gov for permit applications and related services. 

Payments: Payments associated with permitting through Open Gov and event payments are processed by vendors such as Stripe. 

Printing and Mailing: Vendors such as Alpine Litho provide postcard, newsletter, and other print/mail services using names and addresses supplied by the City. 

  1. Information We Collect 

From Website Visitors:

  • Automatically collected: IP address, general geolocation derived from IP address, and other standard technical information through Google Analytics.
  • Cookies/Analytics: The Site uses Google Analytics to understand website usage and improve services.

From Permit Applicants, Contractors, and Service Providers:

  • Identification and contact information: name, address, email, phone number. 
  • Project and application information: project details, contractor information, uploaded documents, photos of homes, bids, and contracts submitted through Open Gov. 
  • Payment information: name, email, payment amount and details necessary to process payments. 
  • Payment processors (e.g., Open Gov and Stripe) collect and process card details. The City does not store full payment card numbers or security codes.

Government Identifiers for Specific Applications 

For certain applications (e.g., solicitor/solicitation applications), the City may collect government identifiers as required to conduct background checks. Those identifiers are transmitted to the Prairie Village Police Department for background check purposes and are retained and deleted pursuant to Section 10 (Data Retention). 

Children

The City does not operate a children’s portal and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information to the City, contact info@missionhillsks.gov. 

  1. How We Collect Information 
  • Directly from individuals: through forms and submissions on Open Gov and through communications with the City. 
  • Automatically: through the Site using Google Analytics. 
  • From service providers acting on the City’s behalf: as necessary to provide requested services (e.g., payment processors, mailing providers). 
  • The City does not knowingly collect information from data brokers and does not conduct marketing or monitoring outside the United States.
  1. How We Use Information 

The City uses personal and non-identifiable information to:

  • Provide municipal services, process permits and licenses, manage projects, and respond to inquiries. 
  • Process payments for fees and City-sponsored events (through PCI-compliant payment processors). 
  • Communicate about applications, permits, inspections, notices, and City services. 
  • Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Site and City systems. 
  • Meet legal, regulatory, and recordkeeping obligations, including background checks for authorized purposes. 

The City does not use automated decision-making to provide or deny essential services and does not profile individuals based on sensitive traits.

  1. Cookies and Analytics 
    • The Site uses Google Analytics cookies to gather non-identifiable usage data (e.g., page views, device/browser type, approximate location inferred from IP). 
    • Purpose: to understand Site performance and improve user experience; not for targeted advertising. 
    • Managing cookies: You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect Site functionality. 
    • Do-Not-Track: At this time, the Site does not respond to Do-Not-Track or Global Privacy Control signals.
  2. How We Share Information 
  • The City shares personal information only as needed for City operations, legal obligations, or with consent, including:
  • Service providers: CivicPlus (website hosting), Open Gov (permitting and payment processing), payment processors such as Stripe (event payments), and Alpine Litho (printing/mailing). These providers are required to use information only to perform services for the City and to safeguard it appropriately. 
  • Law enforcement and public safety: Prairie Village Police Department to conduct required background checks for solicitation applications and similar, and other governmental authorities as required by law. 
  • Legal compliance: to comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, or to protect the City’s legal rights, the public, or City systems. 
  • The City does not sell personal information. The City does not share personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes.
  1. Public Records 

As a municipal government, the City is subject to applicable public records laws, including the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). Certain records may be available to the public upon request unless an exemption applies. Some personal information submitted to the City may therefore be subject to disclosure, subject to legal exemptions and redactions permitted by law. 

  1. Data Retention 

The City retains personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, maintain accurate records, resolve disputes, and enforce policies. Retention and disposition of records are managed in accordance with applicable Kansas records retention requirements and City policies. Information collected solely for background checks related to solicitation applications is not retained by the City longer than necessary to complete that process.

  1. Data Security 

The City employs reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Examples include:

  • Role-based access to systems containing personal information. 
  • Use of reputable service providers with appropriate security controls. 
  • Network and system safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. The City maintains procedures to identify, investigate, and, when required by law, notify affected individuals of certain personal information breaches. 
  1. Your Choices and Rights

Access, Correction, and Deletion 

Subject to applicable laws (including public records requirements and lawful retention obligations), you may request:

  • Access to personal information the City maintains about you. 
  • Correction of inaccurate personal information. 
  • Deletion of personal information when no longer required by law or necessary for City operations. 

Submit requests to: info@missionhillsks.gov. The City may take steps to verify your identity and may be unable to honor a request if doing so would violate law, compromise City operations, infringe on others’ privacy, or conflict with records retention requirements.

Consent

When the City collects particularly sensitive information for a specific, required purpose (e.g., background checks), the City will provide appropriate notice and obtain required authorizations or consents, as applicable. 

  1. Communications 

The City may send service-related communications (e.g., permit updates, notices). You may manage non-essential communications by following included instructions or contacting the City. The City does not engage in third-party marketing.

  • Third-Party Services and Links 
  • Some services are provided by third parties (e.g., Open Gov for permitting and payments, Stripe for payments including payments for City events). 
  • Your use of those services may be subject to the third party’s terms and privacy practices. 
  • The City encourages you to review those policies before submitting information. 
  • The City does not control third-party websites and is not responsible for their content or privacy practices.
  • User Content and Interactive Features 
  • The City’s Site does not provide public forums for users to post content or communicate with each other. 
  • If future features enable such functionality, the City will update this Policy and provide appropriate notices.
  • International Use 
  • City services are intended for individuals in the United States. 
  • The City does not market to or monitor behavior of individuals outside the United States.
  1. Changes to This Policy:

The City may update this Policy to reflect changes in laws, technology, or City practices. Updates will be posted on the Site with a revised effective date. Material changes will be highlighted when appropriate.

  1. Contact information for questions, requests or concerns: 

Email: info@missionhillsks.gov

If you need this Policy in an alternative format, contact the City at the email above.



Last Update
This Privacy Policy was last updated on December 1, 2025.

Contact Information
Questions or comments regarding this Privacy Policy should be sent by e-mail to info@missionhillsks.gov or by U.S. mail to 6300 State Line Road, Mission Hills, Kansas, 66208.