Assistant Planner

The ideal candidate is a strong communicator with excellent customer service and writing skills who is comfortable interacting with the public, presenting information, and explaining planning requirements and processes clearly.

The best candidate is someone who combines strong public-facing and presentation skills with an eagerness to learn, contribute to development projects, and grow their expertise in professional planning.

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

• Plans, organizes, conducts research studies, and prepares reports and presents recommendations regarding land use, zoning, urban design, population trends, transportation, housing, and environmental needs; maintains, updates, and analyzes demographic and other data required for the planning function; participates in the review, development, or revision of the various elements of the General Plan, environmental impact reports, plans, ordinances, and other policies and procedures.
• Provides information and assistance to developers, property owners, and the public regarding laws, policies, regulations, standards, and procedures with respect to the submission of plans, processing of applications, and implementation of requirements; reviews, investigates, and processes various plans and applications for subdivision, housing, commercial, and industrial developments, variances, use permits, and zoning clearance; determines conformity with laws, policies, regulations, and procedures; recommends approval or identifies problems and assesses alternatives.
• Prepares a variety of written communications, including analytical reports, commentaries, correspondence, and drafts of revisions to local ordinances, planning policies, and procedures.
• Assigns and routes plan checks, structural, grading, and landscape plans to staff; reviews plan checks for conformity and maintains monthly log of plan checks processed by the department.
• Compiles, analyzes, and interprets data to define environmental conditions, social, economic, and housing trends, community needs, and zoning problems.
• Prepares maps, graphs, charts, and other visual aids to illustrate planning studies.
• Makes presentations or prepares material for presentation to the City Council, boards, commissions, and community groups; answers questions and provides information and assistance to the public in person, on the telephone, and in writing.
• Coordinates, reviews, and administers contracts for planning and environmental consulting services.
• Uses computers and software programs for various technical planning projects and studies.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of urban planning.
• Provides technical direction and training to other planning and technical staff, as needed.
• Observes and complies with City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: 

• Modern principles and practices of technical and legal issues of urban and regional planning, zoning, urban economics, demographics, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and environmental planning and program management.
• Implementation of zoning and other municipal ordinances.
• Methods used in developing information for General Plan amendments.
• Principles, practices, theories, and trends of municipal land use, physical design, economic, environmental, architecture, and/or social concepts to the planning process.
• Terminology, symbols, methods, techniques, and instruments used in planning and map drafting.
• Local government organization and the functions and practices of a municipal planning unit.
• Geographic, socio-economic, transportation, political, and other elements related to city planning including community trends and market analyses techniques.
• Comprehensive plans and current planning and development processes.
• Site planning and architectural design principles.
• Researching and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures. 
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning, zoning, and environmental review. 
• Practices of researching planning and land use issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping. 
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility, including the Subdivision Map Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.
• 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: 

• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public; identify and respond to issues and concerns of the public, City Council, and other boards and commissions.
• Assess, monitor, and report environmental impact on and of various City programs and services.
• Research and analyze planning and zoning issues, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare and present effective staff and technical reports.
• Read and interpret maps, site and building plans and specifications, graphs, and statistical data.
• Perform increasingly responsible and varied assignments under decreasing degrees of supervision. 
• Prepare clear visual displays, such as maps, graphs, and illustrations.
• Present ideas persuasively.
• Instruct others in work procedures and provide specific project direction.
• Prepare and present clear and effective reports, technical documents, correspondence, and other written material.
• Make accurate arithmetic, statistical, and planning computations. 
• Coordinate assigned activities with other City departments and agencies as required. 
• Learn and understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Establish and maintain accurate databases, records, and files.
• Interpret, understand, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to zoning and planning work.
• 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.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignment. 
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• 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.  

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS