Assistant Planner

Salary : $6,292.16 - $9,438.24 Monthly
Location : Camarillo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2024-00030
Department: Community Development
Opening Date: 10/07/2024
Closing Date: 11/4/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Summary Description
The ideal candidate for the Assistant Planner position is a proactive individual eager to make a meaningful impact within the organization. They should possess a strong work ethic and work well in a team environment. An open-minded attitude toward learning and a willingness to receive feedback is essential, along with the ability to view situations from different perspectives.
Strong customer service and diplomatic skills are required for interactions with the public and staff. One year of responsible professional or paraprofessional urban or regional planning and zoning experience is highly desirable but any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.
This role involves a variety of professional responsibilities supporting the City's planning functions. Candidates at this level are not expected to have the same depth of knowledge or skill as those in the Associate Planner position and will exercise less independent judgment regarding work procedures and methods.
Representative Duties
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Plans, organizes, and conducts research studies; maintains, updates, and analyzes demographic and other data required for community planning; prepares reports and analysis regarding land use, zoning, urban design, population trends, transportation, community needs, housing, and environmental issues; coordinates work of consultants preparing reports; prepares and provides program area recommendations.
• Recommends the use of land for residential, commercial, industrial, and community uses; participates in the review, development, revision, and maintenance of general plan elements, plans, zoning ordinances, and other policies and procedures.
• Reviews and processes various plans and applications for commercial, industrial, residential, and institutional development projects; collects and evaluates information related to the application process and determines conformity with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; recommends approval or alternative approaches; conducts project site checks and field inspections.
• Coordinates the development review process; communicates and coordinates with other City departments, developers, and outside agencies throughout the development process to create the best possible development.
• Conducts environmental analysis for the preparation of environmental documents in compliance with state law; oversees the processing and City review of Environmental Impact Reports including the selection and management of outside consultant agreements; reviews Environmental Impact Reports, negative declarations, categorical exemptions, and related documents.
• Provides front counter and phone support; provides information and assistance to developers, property owners, the public, other departments, and outside agencies regarding laws, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures related to the submission of plans, processing of applications, and implementation requirements; investigates and responds to complaints of zoning code violations.
• As assigned, provides outreach, education, monitoring, and contact with persons, non-profits, private developers, and housing agencies regarding affordable housing; prepares housing affordability agreements; coordinates with developers, homebuyers, and lenders to implement housing programs; reviews loan programs and notifies lenders if loan product is not available.
• As assigned, manages contracts for Community Development Block Grant programs and inclusionary housing programs; coordinates with non-profits, developers, government officials, realtors, lenders, and citizens.
• Represents the City at meetings and on committees; reviews and comments on other agencies' plans, and regional plans, programs, and environmental documents.
• Performs a wide range of duties in support of the Planning Commission as well as the City Council and other boards and commissions; coordinates preparation of meeting agendas for various commissions, boards, and community groups including reviewing draft materials and preparing comments; organizes meetings and work sessions; prepares public hearing notices ensuring timely notification of appropriate parties; prepares and presents staff reports and other presentations for the City Council, Planning Commission, and other commissions, boards, and community groups.
• Researches and contributes to the review and revision of local ordinances, land use regulations, design guidelines, and amendments to the General Plan; prepares draft ordinances, including zoning ordinance amendments and zone changes, for the Planning Commission and City Council consideration.
• Monitors and coordinates work activities of interns and technicians.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program.
  
• Modern principles, practices, and techniques of current and advance planning including land use, environmental policy analysis, municipal service delivery, physical design, landscape architecture, demographics, and economic and social concepts as applied to municipal planning.
  
• Principles and practices used in building, architecture, and engineering.
  
• Development review procedures and requirements.
  
• Site planning and architectural design principles.
  
• Basic principles of supervision and training.
  
• Project management principles and practices.
  
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions, and applicable environmental laws and regulations.
  
• Recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development.
  
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
  
• Statistical methods and research techniques applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies.
  
• Methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues.
  
• Customer service techniques, practices, and principles.
  
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications.
  
• Computer related programs for mapping and data sources including Geographic Information Systems.

Ability to:

• Perform professional level planning duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations.
  
• Apply policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process.
  
• Interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives.
  
• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public.
  
• Read, interpret, and prepare maps, graphs, charts, site plans, legal descriptions, and other descriptive material.
  
• Analyze and compile statistical and technical information
  
• Develop recommendations regarding the use of property.
  
• Process development applications and coordinate necessary communication between staff, developer, and other agencies.
  
• Analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality.
  
• Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence.
  
• Present technical data in verbal, written, graphic, and map form to City management staff and variety of boards and commissions.
  
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, council members, committee and commission members, and the general public.
  
• Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person.
  
• Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective solutions.
  
• Operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications.
  
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  
• Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban or regional planning, environmental design, architecture, or a related field.
Experience: One year of responsible professional or paraprofessional urban or regional planning and zoning experience is highly desirable.
License or Certificate: Possession of a valid California driver's license at a level appropriate to the equipment operated.
Physical Demands and Working Environment
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites; occasionally works in outside weather conditions; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to operate a vehicle to travel from site to site; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

• Retirement - All regular employees are enrolled in CalPERS. "Classic" members: 2% @ 55; City pays the employee contribution. "PEPRA" members: 2% @ 62; employee contributes 8.25% of salary.
• Social Security - The City does not participate in Social Security. Receiving a CalPERS benefit may affect your Social Security upon retirement. For further information contact a Social Security office or
• Medicare - Employees hired after April 1, 1986 are required to contribute 1.45% of earnings, with an equal amount paid by the City.
• Defined Contribution - The City contributes 7% of employee's gross salary to a 401a Plan.
• Deferred Compensation - Employees have the option to contribute to a 457 Plan up to the maximum allowed by law.
• Health Insurance - The City contributes $157 per month towards a selection of plans. Health insurance is effective the first of the month after date of hire.
• Flex Benefit/Cafeteria Plan - $2,538 monthly, which may be applied toward health insurance premiums. Unused money may be taken as cash, payable twice a month.
• Dental/Vision Insurance - City pays premium for employees and dependents. Dental/Vision insurance is effective the first of the month after date of hire.
• Life Insurance - City-paid term life insurance equal to the employee's annual salary, plus $5,000, rounded up to next $5,000 and dependent life insurance of $2,000 per dependent, is provided.
• Short/Long Term Disability - City pays premium for employees. Eligibility period: 0 days for injury/hospitalization or 7 days for an illness.
• Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Plan - Specified employee groups are mandated to participate in the RHS Plan.
• Holidays - 11 days (88 hours) plus 3 floating holidays (24 hours) per year.
• Management Leave - Executive and mid-management exempt employees receive 32-80 hours per year.
• Vacation - Vacation is determined by number of years of service. (0-4 years = 80 hrs; 5-9 years = 120 hrs; 10-14 years = 160 hrs; 15+ years = 168-200 hrs). Employees are eligible to use vacation after 6 months of employment.
• Sick Leave - 96 hours per year.
• Comprehensive Annual Leave (CAL) - Sanitary District Only. Combined vacation, sick and floating holiday leaves. (0-4 yrs = 160 hrs; 5-9 yrs = 200 hrs; 10-14 yrs = 240 hrs; 15+ yrs = 248-288 hrs)

Benefits listed may not reflect all benefits offered. Not all benefits apply to all positions. Regular, part-time employees receive pro-rated benefits. Additional information is available by contacting Human Resources.
01
The supplemental questionnaire is part of the examination process for this position and will be used in determining your qualifications. In order to receive every consideration in the selection process you must complete all the questions with concise yet detailed answers and provide all the requested information. The experience you indicate in your response to the supplemental questions must also be described in detail, on the Work Experience section of your Employment Application. Failure to complete the "Work Experience" section of the employment application may result in your application not being considered. The hiring department may review each answer to evaluate your qualifications. Responses such as "See Resume" or "See Application" will result in disqualification and will not be considered further.By continuing in the recruitment process, you are certifying that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true to the best of your knowledge. If you are selected to continue in the recruitment process, your qualifications may be evaluated through employment verification, reference checks and written, skill assessment, and oral examinations.Select "Yes" to acknowledge that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

02
Describe your work experience in reviewing, analyzing, and applying standards to projects. Please highlight any experience with city or county projects.
03
What types of projects have you led and managed? Please provide details on your research, organization, analysis, and report preparation, as well as how you ensured projects stayed on track to meet deadlines.
04
Describe your experience in preparing professional reports and summaries, and presenting technical data.
05
What is your philosophy on customer service, and what relevant experience do you have?
06
Describe your experience with GIS applications like ArcView, and include any other software are you familiar with.
Required Question