Description
The City of Watsonville is looking for a planning professional to streamline current planning efforts and implement the recently adopted Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan and the 6th Cycle Housing Element. This plan focuses on increasing infill housing and promoting economic growth. The position can be filled at the Senior, Associate, or Assistant level. This recruitment will fill one current vacancy and establish a list for future openings.
DESCRIPTION OF BASIC FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
SENIOR PLANNER
To provide lead supervision to professional planning staff; and to coordinate and participate in the most complex and large scale planning projects such as development of the General Plan and major development proposals. Employees in this classification receive minimal supervision within a broad framework of policies and procedures. Employees in this job class direct, coordinate, and monitor the work of others in a lead capacity. This job class requires comprehensive mastery of the principles and practices of professional municipal and environmental planning and functions at an advanced journey/lead level of classification.
ASSOCIATE PLANNER
To perform a variety of difficult assignments in the preparation and presentation of planning reports; to perform technical reviews and evaluations of land use and permit applications, environmental impact reports, and construction projects; and to enforce zoning ordinances and regulations. Employees in this classification receive limited supervision within a framework of standard policies and procedures. Positions in this job class may provide training and direction to newer employees and on a project basis. This job class functions at the second journey level classification of the professional planning series and is distinguished from the Assistant Planner classification by the greater scope, variety, and technical complexity of assignments.
ASSISTANT PLANNER
To perform professional planning work of average difficulty, and to assist higher level planners in the execution of their duties by providing technical and professional support. Employees in this classification receive general supervision within a framework of standard policies and procedures. This job class functions at the first journey level of classification, requiring knowledge of professional planning principles and practices.
Examples of Duties
TYPICAL DUTIES:
SENIOR PLANNER
- Plans, organizes, coordinates and provides lead supervision for the preparation and administration of the General Plan, General Plan Amendments, and Environmental Impact Reports
- Plans, organizes, assigns, monitors and reviews the work of professional planning staff; provides staff training and development
- Reviews and analyzes major development projects for conformance with state and local laws and standards $ Assigns advance planning projects and supervises preparation of reports
- Oversees and participates in the preparation of the General Plan Environmental review
- Directs environmental review of public and private projects for the City including consultant selection and preparation and monitoring of contracts for private consultants
- Coordinates assigned planning activities with other City departments through the Development Processing Committee
- Coordinates and processes tentative map applications with other City departments
- Reviews and analyzes planning projects proposed by other agencies
- Makes presentations of proposals, analyses, issues, and facts to elected and appointed officials, commissions, and others
- Provides interpretations of the general plan and environmental, zoning, encroachment, flood protection, land use and related laws, codes, regulations and ordinances to the public, developers and other interested parties
- Prepares comprehensive reports, technical studies and correspondence related to areas of responsibility using a variety of planning concepts and techniques
- Conducts special studies as directed by the Planning Director, Planning commission or as issues require
- Reviews local ordinances for consistency with state and Federal law and initiates changes to ensure conformance
- Coordinates and performs research, administrative, and technical activities necessary to achieve project objectives and to maintain departmental programs
Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required
ASSOCIATE PLANNER
Reviews applications for use permits, subdivision, and variances to determine environmental status and impacts
- Provides interpretations of environmental, zoning, encroachment, land use and related laws, codes, regulations and ordinances
- Prepares analyses of environmental impacts
- Prepares revisions of site plans and summaries of mitigating measures to reduce adverse
environmental impacts
- Reviews and comments on environmental impact statements and reports prepared by others
- Receives, documents, and investigates complaints concerning land use and failure to comply with zoning ordinances
- Explains zoning ordinances, planning policies, and permit reviews to the public and advises on compliance procedures
- Makes presentations of analyses, issues and facts to elected and appointed officials,
commissions, the public, and others
- Updates environmental guidelines to conform to legislative changes
- Reviews covenants, conditions and restrictions for proposed planned developments and
condominiums, suggesting revisions
- Performs general reviews of use permit and subdivision applications
- Gathers data and prepares reports for a variety of advance planning issues
- Reviews and prepares ordinance changes and general plan amendments
- Performs building plan checking for planning-related items
- Performs final on-site inspections of building sites to ensure compliance with building plans and terms and conditions of approval
- Gathers and organizes statistical data
- Prepares graphic materials, visual aids, and displays
- Prepares Capital Improvement reports
- Performs design reviews and suggests modifications
- Prepares background material for non-compliance reports
- Assigns street addresses
- Operates computerized systems for various planning related applications
- May issue abatements, notices of violation, and citations
- Maintains records of zoning investigations
- Prepares special reports, permits, and variances
- Prepares a variety of correspondence and written reports
- Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required
ASSISTANT PLANNER
- Assists in the review of applications for use permits, subdivisions, and variances to determine environmental status and impacts
- Reviews and comments on environmental impact statements and reports prepared by others
- Presents environmental analyses at study sessions and formal meetings of the Planning Commission
- Performs general reviews of use permit and subdivision applications
- Gathers data and prepares reports for a variety of advance planning issues
- Reviews and prepares ordinance changes and general plan amendments
- Explains zoning ordinances, planning policies, and permit reviews to the public, developers, and others, and advises on compliance procedures
- Operates computerized systems and maintains data bases for various planning related applications
- Prepares Capital Improvement reports
- Performs design reviews and suggests modifications
- Receives, documents, and investigates complaints concerning land use and failure to comply with zoning ordinances
- Prepares background materials for non-compliance reports
- Gathers and organizes statistical data
- Prepares graphic materials
- Prepares a variety of written studies, reports, and correspondence
- Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
SENIOR PLANNER
Possession Of:
- a valid and appropriate California Driver's license including a safe driving record
Knowledge of:
- objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information services, and trends in the field of municipal planning
- land use law, zoning law, and the California Environmental Quality Act
- land use, physical design, demographic, environmental, and social/economic concepts applied to municipal planning
- application, modification, and interrelationships between ordinances, policies, standards, procedures, and practices associated with the planning function
- mathematical and statistical concepts and techniques used in the planning process
- laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances affecting zoning and land use
- terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in planning and map drafting
- purposes, roles, and authorities of councils, commissions, and others involved in the planning process
- computerized applications for planning uses
Ability to:
- provide lead direction, project coordination, and instruction to professional staff
- conduct the most complex planning studies and activities
- formulate, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding zoning policies, land use ordinances, and environmental review
- coordinate and participate in major projects including collection and analysis of data, and preparation of reports and recommendations pertaining to the planning process
- interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, regulations, specifications, site and building plans, environmental impact reports, data, and maps
- make effective and persuasive oral presentations to elected and appointed officials, the general public, developers, vendors, and others
- analyze complex planning issues and problems, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective courses of action
- prepare clear, concise, and complete technical documents, reports, correspondence, and other written materials
- effectively and tactfully communicate in both oral and written forms
- establish and maintain effective work relationships with those in the performance of required duties
ASSOCIATE PLANNER
Possession Of:
- a valid and appropriate California Driver’s license, including a safe driving record
Knowledge Of:
- principles, practices and trends of public planning
- statistical and research methods as applied to the collection and tabulation of data affecting public planning
- environmental impacts of changes in land use
- laws, codes, regulations and ordinances affecting zoning and land use
- purposes, roles, authorities, and general procedures of councils, commissions and others
involved in the planning process
- computerized applications for planning and general uses
- graphic illustration and presentation
Ability To:
- interpret, apply, and enforce complex rules, regulations, laws and ordinances related to planning and zoning
- collect, analyze and compile technical, statistical and related information pertaining to planning and zoning research
- conduct environmental impact reviews and analyses
- prepare concise and comprehensive planning reports
- make effective presentations to elected officials, the public, commissions, and others
- observe and record findings during investigations
- explain planning issues, land use and zoning ordinances, and environmental impact problems to members of the public concerned with land use and development projects
- effectively and tactfully communicate in both oral and written forms
- establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties
ASSISTANT PLANNER
Knowledge of
- Principles, practices and trends of public planning
- Statistical and research methods as applied to the collection and tabulation of planning related data
- Environmental impacts of changes in land use, and mitigating measures
- Laws, codes, regulations and ordinances affecting zoning and land use purposes, roles and authorities of councils, commissions and others involved in the planning process
- Computerized applications for planning uses
- Graphics and mapping skills
Ability to
- Interpret and apply complex rules, regulations, laws and ordinances related to planning and zoning
- Collect, analyze and compile technical, statistical and related information pertaining to planning and zoning research
- Conduct environmental impact reviews and analyses
- Prepare concise and comprehensive planning reports
- Prepare graphics and a variety of maps
- Make effective presentations to elected officials, the public, commissions, and others
- Observe and record findings during investigations
- Explain planning issues, land use and zoning ordinances, and environmental impact problems to members of the public concerned with land use and development projects
- Effectively and tactfully communicate in both oral and written forms
- Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties
- Speak English/Spanish highly desirable
Typical Qualifications
Training and Experience:
Any Combination Of Training And Experience That Would Provide The Required Knowledge And Abilities Is Qualifying. A Typical Way To Obtain The Knowledge And Abilities Would Be:
SENIOR PLANNER
- Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with academic course work in planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, economics, environmental studies or closely related courses. A master's degree in planning is desirable and three years of professional planning experience in city, county or regional planning at the Associate Planner level.
ASSOCIATE PLANNER
- Considerable advanced education in planning or a closely related field or three years of professional planning experience.
ASSISTANT PLANNER
- Considerable advanced education in planning or a closely related field or four years of work experience providing technical planning assistance in a public agency, and one or two years successful performance as a Junior Planner with the City of Watsonville.
LICENSE
A valid Class C California Driver’s License and a safe driving record
Supplemental Information
The candidate selected will be appointed for a 12-month probationary period. Names of successful candidates who do not receive a job offer will be placed on an employment list that normally remains effective for one year. The Human Resources Department may abolish an Employment list at any time the needs of the City so require. This position is represented by the Mid Management bargaining group.
Prior to appointment to the position of Senior Planner, Associate Planner, a medical examination and Department of Justice Livescan fingerprinting will be required.
The City of Watsonville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages workplace diversity. The City of Watsonville is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by including people with disabilities in all of its programs and activities.
Supplemental Information:
The candidate will be appointed for a 9-month probationary period. Names of successful candidates who do not receive a job offer will be placed on an employment list that normally remains effective for one year. The Human Resources Department may abolish an Employment list at any time the needs of the City so require. This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Prior to appointment to the position of Assistant Planner, a medical examination and Department of Justice Livescan fingerprinting will be required.
The City of Watsonville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages workplace diversity. The City of Watsonville is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by including people with disabilities in all of its programs and activities.
NOTE: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AND ANY PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVISED WITHOUT NOTICE.
City of Watsonville offers excellent medical, dental and vision benefits for the employee and dependents. Benefits also include holidays, vacation, and sick leave. The City offers Public Employees Retirement benefits. Employees shall pay the full employee share of CalPERS contribution.
