City Planner/Associate Planner

Description

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
City Planner: Under general direction of the Director of Development Services, supervises and coordinates the administrative and program activities of the City’s planning operations; serves as the Executive Secretary to the Planning Commission; ensures work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures; coordinates assigned activities with other divisions, outside agencies, and the general public; and provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the Director of Development Services.

Associate Planner: Under general supervision of the Development Services Director, performs a full range of journey level professional duties in support of the Development Services Department’s current and advanced planning functions; administers zoning regulations; performs a variety of assignments in the preparation and distribution of planning reports; processes development projects; performs technical reviews of land use and permit applications, environmental impact reports, and environmental statements; provides customer service and serves as a liaison to applicants, developers, consultants, the general public, and outside organizations and agencies regarding City codes, policies, standards, and processes; and provides technical and professional assistance to City committees, commissions, and the City Council.

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS
The City Planner is a single incumbent management level class with responsibility for developing and implementing planning policies and programs and for the management of the City’s planning and planning related activities. The incumbent implements all aspects of the City General Plan and Zoning Ordinance and enforces and implements the Subdivision Map Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for accomplishing the City’s planning goals and objectives and for ensuring that these goals and objectives are provided to the community in an effective, cost efficient manner.

The Associate Planner is a journey level Professional Planner. Positions assigned to this class are expected to perform the full range of duties as assigned including developing and preparing moderately complex planning reports, working independently, applying program knowledge, and exercising judgment and initiative while having a great deal of public contact. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.

Duties

CITY PLANNER REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
1. Coordinates the organization, staffing, and operational activities for the City’s planning operations including the Community Development Department’s current and advanced planning functions.
2. Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities; recommends and implements resulting policies and procedures.
3. Identifies opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures; identifies resource needs; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.
4. Directs, coordinates, and reviews the work plan for assigned services and activities; assigns work tasks, activities, and projects to staff; monitors workflow and work activities; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.
5. Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
6. Participates in the development and administration of assigned program budget; forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors and approves expenditures; recommends adjustments as necessary.
7. Analyzes planning and planning-related development projects; determines project priorities and scheduling; estimates and establishes guidelines for personnel, resources, and time required for planning project completion; monitors standards and schedules to ensure project completion concise written technical reports and correspondence including staff reports.
8. Ensures that development proposals conform to the City General Plan and other applicable plans and regulations.
9. Maintains and updates General Plan elements on a regular basis.
10. Oversees and participates in interpreting planning and planning-related ordinances and advises citizens.
11. Provides public relations concerning community issues; responds to and resolves citizen inquiries and complaints.
12. Oversees and participates in reviewing and making recommendations on zoning and permits; prepares and assists in the preparation of new or revised ordinances.
13. Ensures the proper administration and enforcement of the City’s zoning and related codes.
14. Provides staff assistance to the Director of Community Development; completes special projects as assigned; prepares statistical analysis and reports and presents these analysis reports to the Community Development Director and Planning Commission.
15. Provides professional assistance on a variety of City matters to Planning Commission.
16. Assists property owners, developers, builders, attorneys, and special interest groups to process applications and meet planning requirements as necessary.
17. Performs code enforcement and prepares and administers grants.
18. Coordinates assigned activities with those of other divisions and outside agencies and organizations.
19. Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of planning.
20. Performs related duties as required.

ASSOCIATE PLANNER REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
1. Performs professional level duties in the development, implementation, and modification of the City’s current and advanced planning and development programs and projects.
2. Performs planning and development review of projects to ensure completeness, consistency, and compliance with all regulations and requirements including City plans and codes.
3. Analyzes proposed subdivision maps and suggests revisions or alternatives for the redesign of a map in order to conform with City standards.
4. Provides customer service and serves as liaison to City staff, applicants, developers, consultants, the general public, and outside organizations and agencies regarding City codes, policies, standards, processes, and requirements over the phone or at the public counter; responds to zoning and land use questions.
5. Provides technical and professional assistance to City committees, commissions, and the City Council; gathers, analyzes, and presents data in the form of written, graphic, or oral reports; provides staffing at meetings; responds to issues and questions as necessary..
6. Provides information or assistance to others engaged in drafting plans, preparing zoning and land use maps, and compiling survey data for reports.
7. Responds to citizen complaints concerning potential violations of City codes and ordinances.
8. Assembles a variety of information and data for the preparation of staff reports and studies.
9. Develops ecological, sociological and statistical data and engages in research preparatory to various phases of planning projects.
10. Plans and makes studies relative to the conservation of natural resources, utilization of land, the proposed development of streets, highways and transportation systems, public services and facilities, public buildings, housing conditions and needs, and procedures to be followed.
11. Provides advice, guidance, and assistance to less experienced personnel performing planning assignments or projects.
12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:
CITY PLANNER / ASSOCIATE PLANNER:
1. Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program.
2. Principles and practices of urban planning and land development methods.
3. Development review procedures and requirements.
4. Recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development.
5. Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
6. Methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues.
7. Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications.
8. Purposes, policies and procedures of the City’s Planning Commission and City Council.
9. Architectural drawing and graphic illustrations.
10. Dispute resolution techniques related to City planning.
11. Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations including land use, zoning, environmental, and subdivision laws, rules, and regulations as well as legal and practical applications.

ADDITIONAL CITY PLANNER:
1. Principles of municipal budget preparation and control.
2. Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
3. Research methods and sources of information related to urban growth and development.
4. Principles and procedures of record keeping.
5. Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
6. Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to:
CITY PLANNER/ASSOCIATE PLANNER:
1. Perform a full range of professional level planning duties involved in participating in the development, implementation, and modification of the City’s planning function.
2. Organize, conduct and present major planning research studies.
3. Interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives.
4. Process development applications and coordinate necessary communication between staff, developer, and other agencies.
5. Conduct research in zoning, land use development, and planning matters.
6. Analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality.
7. Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence.
8. Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, council members, committee and commission members, and the general public.
9. Read, analyze, and interpret information from professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
10. Read, understand, and evaluate plans, maps, and blueprints.
11. Develop and adhere to project timeliness.
12. Conduct public meetings and reach consensus through application of group process skills.
13. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

ADDITIONAL CITY PLANNER:
1. Coordinate and direct current and advanced planning activities and operations.
2. Supervise, direct, and coordinate the work of lower level staff.
3. Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff.
4. Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing wastewater treatment activities and operations.
5. Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
6. Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
7. Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
8. Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
9. Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
10. Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.
11. Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
12. Identify, coordinate, and resolve a wide variety of interests in the development of the land use policy.
13. Ensure program compliance with federal, state, and local rules, laws, and regulations.
14. Interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives.
15. Read, analyze, and interpret information from professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
16. Interpret and explain City policies and procedures.
17. Operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications.
18. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Supplemental Information

Education and Experience Guidelines
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban or regional planning, geography, or related field.
Experience: City Planner: Four years of increasingly responsible, professional governmental planning experience including one year of administrative and/or lead supervisory experience. Associate Planner: Two years of responsible, professional governmental planning experience.

License/Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain by date of appointment, an appropriate driver’s license.
Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: City Planner: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites; occasionally works in outside weather conditions; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends. Associate Planner: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with extensive public contact and constant interruptions.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.