Current Associate City Planner
Job Title: Current Associate City Planner
Department: Community Development, Planning Division
Reports To: Planning Supervisor
Open Date: June 25, 2019
Close Date: Open Until Filled, First Review July 10, 2019
Hiring Range: $3907.29 - $4,991.07 per month, DOE
Salary Range: $3,907.29 - $5,859.16 per month, DOE
Job Summary:
This mid-level planning position involves both routine and complex current planning tasks and duties such as assisting
the general public and City staff by communicating ordinances, policies and procedures and analyzing land use
applications for conformity to established plans and ordinances. The Associate City Planner position involves researching
and preparing staff reports and recommendations on development proposals to the Planning and Zoning Commission
and City Council. The Associate City Planner position also involves researching and preparing administrative staff reports
and review of site improvements to ensure that development complies with conditions of approval.
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 the full scope of
development applications, including conditional use permits, variances, subdivisions, planned developments, annexation
and zoning requests, and other planning projects;
Reviews land use applications for conformity to established plans and ordinances;
Reads interpret, and reviews site designs, topographic plans, landscape plans, and architectural plans and comments
on needed changes and adjustments to plans;
Analyzes complex planning projects and answers technical planning questions related to the project;
Serves as a member of various external and internal committees as assigned to represent the City of Meridian’s vision,
policies, and standards;
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the Planning and Zoning Commission, Mayor, City Council
members, other civic leaders, clients, state and federal authorities, other City departments, and local planning agencies;
Makes formal presentations on the development and planning-related applications to the Planning and Zoning Commission,
City Council, boards, private development and/or builder groups, and other public venues;
Attends hearings for the Planning and Zoning Commission;
Attends City Council meetings and hearings;
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;
Initiates or prepares Unified Development Code amendments;
Provides planning and zoning information to applicants and to the public at the front counter;
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 the performance of work assignments, including adaptability, flexibility,
proactive engagement with customers, clients, and co-workers, problem-solving, decision making, resiliency,
organization and time management;
Facilitates team discussions;
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;
Collaborates with co-workers and other City staff to accomplish assigned tasks as a team;
Demonstrates integrity in the performance of assigned tasks;
Works with Planning Division Manager on a training program for employee’s professional development;
Attends continuing 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:
1) High school diploma plus a minimum of four years of experience in community development and/or land use planning
field and American Institute of Certified Planning certification; or 2) a Bachelor’s degree in planning or a related field
plus a minimum of two years of experience in community development and/or land use planning; or 3) equivalent
combination of experience, education, and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to
perform the job.
A Master’s degree in planning or a related field is preferred;
American Institute of Certified Planners certification desired;
Must have excellent writing and research skills; have 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, land use theory, comprehensive
planning and zoning requirements;
Research techniques;
Demographics, population forecasting, housing, land use, and traffic studies;
Math skills including statistical analysis;
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;
Advanced knowledge of federal, 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 a 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;
The 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 travel is required using city-owned vehicles.