Assistant City Planner (Current Planning)
Job Title: Assistant City Planner
Department: Community Development
Reports To: Planning Supervisor
Open Date: August 31, 2018
Close Date: Open Until Filled, First Review September 17, 2018
Hiring Salary: $18.63 - $23.76 per hour, DOE
Salary Range: $18.63 - $27.91 per hour, DOE
Job Summary:
This entry-level planning position involves routine planning tasks and duties such as: assisting the general public, developers, builders, small business owners, and City staff by communicating ordinances, policies and procedures; reviewing administrative level land use applications and submittals for conformity to established plans and ordinances; composition of routine correspondence; and staff support as needed and assigned.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Works independently and under the direction of the Planning Supervisor, the Planning Division Manager and/or the Community Development Director;
Conducts research and collects and analyzes data to produce complete, accurate and logical staff reports on a limited scope of development applications including but not limited to: sign permits, certificates of zoning compliance, zoning verification letters and accessory use permits;
Reviews land use applications for conformity to established plans and ordinances;
Reads, interprets, and reviews site designs, topographic plans, landscape plans, sign company designs, and architectural plans and comments on needed changes and adjustments to plans;
Analyzes routine planning projects and answers questions related to the project;
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the Planning and Zoning Commission, Mayor, City Council members, other civic leaders, customers, state and federal authorities, other City departments, and local planning agencies;
Occasionally attends special meetings or facilitates public meetings held in the evening;
Uses ArcView and associated database to research property ownership and land use information;
Uses Accela Automation for application review and tracking;
Provides timely, accurate and specific planning and zoning information to applicants and to the public at the front counter and through written correspondence;
Conducts on-site inspections of landscaping, parking and other required improvements to ensure that development complies with conditions of approval;
Prepares comments on applications referred to the City by Ada County for compliance with Meridian Comprehensive Plan and/or ordinances;
Identifies and corrects potential conflicts before they become a problem;
Demonstrates positive, solution focused attitude through optimism, decisiveness, and team decision making;
Maintains a positive attitude of cooperation in performance of work assignments, including adaptability, flexibility, proactive engagement with customers, clients and co-workers. Problem solving, decision making, resiliency, organization and time management;
Provides outstanding customer service by communicating respect, being open-minded, having a spirit of collaboration, and calmly resolving conflict with individuals that may be upset or angry;
Develops and uses empathetic listening skills;
Demonstrates good judgment and initiative to interpret and apply City policies and procedures;
Provides excellent oral, written, and graphic communication with co-workers, clients and supervisor;
Demonstrates integrity in the performance of assigned tasks;
Works with Planning Division Manager on a training program for employee’s professional development;
Attends continued education conferences, workshops, and other training opportunities to remain current with planning and/or development trends;
Performs other duties as assigned or needed.
Job Specifications:
- High School diploma plus a minimum of four years of experience in community development and/or planning field; or 2) Bachelor’s degree in planning or a related field; or 3) equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the job;
- Must have strong customer service ethic and skills;
Ability to manage and complete multiple tasks and projects;
Must have excellent writing and research skills; have a strong attention to detail; be a persuasive speaker; be even-tempered, fair; and be committed to the American Institute of Certified Planning Code of Ethics.
Working Knowledge of:
Principles and terms related to general and applied planning, development regulations, comprehensive planning and zoning requirements;
Research techniques;
Principles, practices and operation of Geographic Information Systems and ArcView in particular;
Accela Automation;
Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, and PowerPoint;
Working knowledge of state and local laws related to land use, permitting and subdivisions;
Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Ability to:
Prioritize, organize and perform work with minimal direction;
Type at least 30 words per minute;
Compose clear and concise correspondence and technical written documents;
Collect, prepare, and analyze statistical information;
Operate a computer terminal;
Read and interpret site plans and plats;
Work with frequent interruptions;
Perform mathematical operations quickly and accurately;
Operate office equipment, e.g., photocopier, facsimile machine, digital camera, etc.
Licensing:
Possession of a valid Idaho driver’s license and a safe driving record is required. If selected for employment, out-of-state candidates must obtain a valid Idaho driver’s license within the introductory period.
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
Work is performed primarily in an office environment with moderate noise level. The employee in this class is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions which provide protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes;
Employee is occasionally subject to outside environmental conditions and is required to negotiate rough terrain in order to conduct site visits which may also involve extreme heat and/or cold;
Frequently requires sitting at a desk for long periods of time, up to 8 hours;
Requires ability to lift up to 40 pounds;
Constantly requires repetitive movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers;
Constantly requires clarity of speech and hearing, which permits the employee to communicate effectively;
Constantly requires clear vision to read printed materials and computer screen to accomplish work;
Requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to function in a general office environment to accomplish the tasks noted above.
Travel Requirements:
Frequent local travel is required using city-owned vehicles.