Principal Planner

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Provides supervision and training to assigned staff; plans and oversees the daily functions, operations, and activities of the Planning Division, including current and advance planning, zoning, development, and environmental review; reviews and controls quality of work; inspects and evaluates work in progress and upon completion to ensure work is performed in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and City policies and procedures.
• Serves as project manager for complex planning projects, including analyzing and evaluating site and architectural plans, performing technical review for project plans and applications, and making recommendations. 
• Prepares and presents staff reports to the City Council, Planning Commission, and various commissions, committees, and boards.
• Interprets and applies federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations to ensure public and private projects comply, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Subdivision Map Act, Public Resource Code, General Plan, Specific Plans, Design Specifications, and Local Guidelines.
• Confers with and provides information at the public counter and over the telephone to the public, developers, property owners, contractors, engineers, architects, other departments, and outside agencies regarding conformance to standards, plan specifications, and codes; explains codes, requirements, and procedures; evaluates alternatives. 
• Makes recommendations on development permits, special use permits, variances, tentative tract maps, planned development permits, and other zoning applications; identifies appropriate land use policy, design issues, and environmental requirements; makes recommendations for action. 
• Conducts site and policy background research to obtain information for the preparation of staff reports, correspondence, memoranda, policy documents, procedure documents, and presentations to supervisory, inter-departmental staff, or governing bodies; reads, interprets, analyzes, and explains a wide variety of technical documents, studies, and practices related to traffic, noise, plant and animal resources, archaeological resources, paleontological resources, cultural resources, geotechnics, water quality, air quality, and legislation which may impact the City’s planning projects.
• Researches, writes, and presents elements of the City’s General Plan; prepares and processes amendments to the City’s General Plan, specific plans, and zoning ordinances, in addition to current planning projects such as subdivisions, conditional use permits, and zone changes.
• Represents the Planning Department at public meetings and presents planning and zoning matters to the Planning Commission and citizen committees; advises and assists Planning regarding community planning issues and problems, pending cases, and the application of established City policies and ordinances.
• Coordinates planning activities with other City departments and with outside agencies.
• Provides staff support to a variety of boards and commissions; attends and participates in professional groups and committees; provides technical and professional support to departmental management staff and other City departments and the public; advises other departments regarding planning and/or environmental review requirements, budgets, and timelines to facilitate adequate project planning.
• Gathers, analyzes, and presents data on a varied range of urban planning matters in the form of written, graphic, or oral reports for use by the Director, Planning Commission, City Council, or special committees. 
• Schedules project meetings for planning entitlement projects with applicants and property owners for project updates; meets and discusses projects with other department, divisions, and outside agencies. 
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in urban planning and community development; performs research related to emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to City needs.
• Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval. 
• Responds to the most complex and difficult inquiries and requests for information; provides information and resolves service issues and complaints; represents the division with other City departments, other agencies, civic groups, and the public.
• Prepares and updates files and records. 
• Ensures staff observe and comply with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Assists in developing and administering departmental budgets.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: 

• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures;
• Principles and practices of leadership;
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly;
• Community involvement methods and practices; 
• Geographic, socio-economic, transportation, political, environmental, and other elements related to city planning;
• Comprehensive plans, current planning processes, and the development process;
• General concepts of architecture, landscaping, grading, drainage, and traffic and transportation engineering related to the process of urban planning; 
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a comprehensive environmental planning program;
• Principles, procedures, standards, practices, information sources, and trends in the fields of current and advance planning;
• Land use, physical design, demographic, environmental, and social/economic concepts as applied to municipal planning;
• Statistical analysis techniques related to municipal planning; 
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the Subdivision Map Act, the California Environment Quality Act (CEQA), the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, the Cortese/Knox Local Government Reorganization Act, and National Environmental Policy Act;
• Terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in planning and map drafting;
• Planning division programs;
• Budgeting principles and practices;
• Principles of basic mathematics and geometry and their application to planning work;
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation;
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly;
• Recordkeeping principles and procedures;
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols;
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff;
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar;
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to: 

• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards;
• Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner;
• Provide administrative, management, and professional leadership for the Planning Division;
• Assess, monitor, and report environmental impacts on various City programs and services;
• Analyze site design, terrain constraints, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services;
• Conduct complex planning research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports;
• Manage projects;
• Conduct zoning studies and interpret City zoning laws, regulations, and codes;
• Plan, organize, and coordinate the work of assigned staff;
• Read blueprints and site plans and conduct site inspections;
• Build and develop a departmental budget program;
• Evaluate architectural proposals and urban design/site plans;
• Write and review complex CEQA documents;
• Respond to complaints or inquiries from citizens, staff, and outside organizations;
• Prepare clear, effective, and accurate reports, correspondence, and other written materials;
• Perform plan checks;
• Perform mathematical calculations;
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, recordkeeping, and tracking systems;
• Read, interpret, and record data;
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed;
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals. 
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines;
• Independently organize work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines;
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks;
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax;
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Education and Experience: 

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, architecture, environmental design, public administration, or a related field.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience, including one (1) year experience in a lead or supervisory capacity. 

Licenses and Certifications: 

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License, to be maintained throughout employment. 

Salary : $110,074 - $147,534