Associate Planner – Current Planning

Actively supports and upholds the City’s stated mission and values.  Under the direct supervision of the Comprehensive or Current Planning Manager(s) employees of this class perform planning duties related to the design, development and implementation of specific plans, neighborhood, and district/activity center plans conforming to the Flagstaff Regional Plan and the Zoning Code, and the needs of a developing community that has expectations for outstanding community design.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

• Supervisory:  This job has Lead Worker responsibilities (coordinates and monitors the work of others), but does not supervise.
• Budgetary:  This job does not have budgetary responsibilities, but carries out day-to-day activities within approved budget.
• Strategic Planning:  This job does not have strategic planning responsibilities, but carries out day-to-day activities in order to reach the stated goals and objectives.
• Policies/Procedures:  This job has partial responsibility for policies and procedures (assists with developing, implementing, and interpreting) at the program level.
• Compliance:  This job has partial responsibility (follows, assists in ensuring compliance with, and may enforce) Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
• Council Communications:  This job represents matters at Council meetings at the level.
• Reporting:  This job does not have duties related to reporting to Federal/State/Local agencies.

Examples of the Work Performed

• Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Answers questions to the public via telephone, front counter, e-mail, and or the Internet regarding requirements of the zoning code, and the procedures for submitting development plans or proposals to the Internal Development Staff (IDS), the planning and zoning commission, and when necessary, to the board of adjustments or the city council.
• Interprets Regional Plan goals and policies for the public, co-workers, and other governmental agencies.
• Researches and prepares staff background and recommendation reports for concept/site plan reviews, conditional use permits, annexation requests, rezoning, board of adjustments, regional land use and transportation requests and other related matters, as assigned
• Performs independent analysis and makes recommendations to senior staff.
• Performs professional level routine to mid-range planning functions associated with municipal planning, neighborhood plans, and community design in a designated area.
• Identifies planning districts and develops plans and guidelines for neighborhoods, historic districts, and other areas.
• Participates in the development of neighborhood and district revitalization and redevelopment strategies in conjunction with Community Investment Division staff.
• Initiates, schedules, and participates in public meetings, and organizes citizen involvement in community planning and community design matters.
• Prepares and presents oral and written reports to the City Council, various citizen commissions, the city manager, and division heads.
• Attends agency, commission, staff, and community meetings relating to planning matters.
• Works to ensure compliance with the adopted Regional Plan.
• Conducts research projects concerning, for example, land use, transportation, zoning, population, economic base, and redevelopment.
• Provide assistance at the Division  front counter, performing analysis of the Zoning Code including compliance review of design standards, landscaping, parking, signs, or resources; answering questions from the public regarding requirements of the Zoning Code and the procedures for submitting development plans or proposals for approval; accepting or declining applications based on submittal requirements; and performing reviews of small scale/minor development applications as assigned.
• Assists in the preparation of studies and reports regarding amendments to the Zoning Code.
• Performs research duties as assigned (including process and operations review, implementing new planning technologies, code amendment review, etc.)
• Assists with data collection and analysis, and with the preparation of the Regional Plan Annual Report.
• Performs entry to moderate level planning duties associated with comprehensive planning as well as handling special projects and providing current planning assistance as needed.
• This position entails performing liaison responsibilities to neighborhood groups and establishing and maintaining strong lines of communication with pertinent entities associated with current planning, neighborhood planning, and specific planning issues.
• May be assigned responsibility for particular projects or phases of planning and design work and as necessary.
• May be required to assist at the Community Development front counter and become proficient at accepting, entering, and permitting various submittals.
• Review, access, and revise new and existing business process management procedures, working in conjunction with other divisions within the city.
• Performs related duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, urban planning, urban design, or other related field that provides appropriate planning background.
• Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• One year of planning experience.
• Experience with general plan and zoning laws and related court decisions.
• Experience with GIS and other computer application software such as Adobe InDesign, Sketch-Up or Community-Viz.
• Experience in community relations, public involvement, or media relations.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess, or obtain upon employment, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.
• Ability to attend meetings in the evenings as necessitated by the job.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Strong team building skills and ability to obtain consensus within groups.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of zoning, land use, site planning and urban design.
• Commitment to acquire working knowledge of the principles of Traditional Neighborhood Design and Form Based Codes.
• Commitment to acquire knowledge of Arizona’s Growing Smarter and other land use/planning statutes.
• Strong knowledge and experience of the principles of community planning and design and the ability to graphically explain both.
• Ability to learn and apply the City’s Regional Plan policies and Zoning Code standards.
• Ability to conduct original research and make sound administrative analysis relating to policy and management problems.
• Ability to perform research, conduct independent investigations, and apply planning and zoning regulations to new development and permit applications.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high degree of organization and attention to detail in the task assigned.
• Ability to write professionally, particularly the ability to coordinate and write professional level plans (planning documents).
• Ability to complete work assignments in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ability to make professional level oral presentations.
• Plan and illustrative graphic skills.
• Basic skills related to the use of ArcGIS and AutoCAD.
• Strong skills in the use of word-processing, spreadsheet, project, photographic, and presentation software.