City Planner

The City Planner is a senior level planner that specializes in long range planning. The City Planner is responsible for assisting with the collection, compilation, assimilation, and presentation of data related to the development of master plans for land use and community facilities, for activities related to plan implementation, such as zoning regulation development and administration, and for economic and demographic research, and other duties as assigned.  Work requires exercising mature and independent judgment based on accumulated experience in determining courses of action and in the development and presentation of material within a specific area of functional specialization.   Work is performed with considerable independence within the scope of professional methods and procedures to accomplish assigned projects. Position reports to the Community Development Director.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 

• Administers zoning, sustainability, and landscape-related planning functions for the department.
• Collect, analyze, and evaluate data for planning studies, reports, projects, and exhibits.
• Creates staff reports and attends Planning & Zoning board, Development (TRAD) Committee, and neighborhood meetings.
• Prepares amendments to the Land Development Regulations to respond to changing conditions, streamline processes, and guide growth and development toward the City’s vision.
• Reads and refers to various materials such as zoning maps, future land use maps, code of ordinances, comprehensive plans, maps, resolutions, etc. to provide information, create plans, and make accurate decisions. 
• Prepare technical analyses of applications including, proposed zoning and land use changes, conditional uses, etc., for compliance and consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Regulations, neighborhood/redevelopment plans, and applicable design guidelines.
• Interacts and communicates with a variety of groups and individuals including The City Manager, Mayor, Council members, division heads, department staff, and the public.
• Establish and maintain liaisons with officials of cities within Dade County and other agencies to assure coordination of community development efforts.
• Works in regional program areas relating to natural/water resources planning, community development, hazard mitigation, coastal zone management, and others.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning or related field; and three (3) to five (5) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job

Special Qualifications:

Possession of a valid, State of Florida driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. Requirements exist at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of development review, ordinance preparation, and/or comprehensive planning.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of urban planning and research.
• Knowledge of the City charter and of ordinances and codes pertaining to building, zoning, and design review.
• Knowledge of zoning ordinances.
• Knowledge of the techniques required in the preparation of maps, charts, sketches, and complex graphics.
• Knowledge of comprehensive planning and the State of Florida Growth Management Act.
• Skills in computer usage including GIS (ArcView), and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  
• Skills in oral and written communication and for preparing and presenting planning reports and projects.
• Skills to facilitate relationships with elected/appointed officials or other decision-makers.
• Skills in creative problem-solving and the ability to gather relevant information to solve less well-defined planning problems.
• Ability to demonstrate analytical and communication skills. 
• Ability to communicate, interact, and facilitate activities effectively with public. 
• Ability to compile data and maintain complex records. 
• Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously.
• Ability to provide effective supervision and staff management.
• Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines.
• Ability to apply professional city planning principles, practices, and techniques to a wide variety of routine problems and assignments.
• Ability to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including an automobile, computer, camera, calculator, telephone, typewriter, copier, and fax machine, etc.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: 

• Manual Dexterity: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound. 
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Visual Acuity 1: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.
• Visual Acuity 2: Including color, depth perception, and field vision.
• Visual Acuity 3: Visual Acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in an office setting with occasional field inspections and offsite meetings.