LEGISLATIVE ANALYST-LAND USE

BASIC FUNCTION

Provides policy and fiscal analysis to the County Council, primarily on land use, comprehensive planning, and oversight of contracts and legislation. The analyst presents findings to the Council and its committees and serves as a liaison to County departments, external agencies, and the public.

The legislative analyst is a salaried, at-will, overtime exempt classification. All analysts are expected to conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses of programs, policies, and legislative actions that are before the Council for consideration. Analysis will evaluate policy and fiscal impacts, identify associated consequences and/or risks associated with the proposal, and ensure compliance with legislative mandate and existing policies. Analysts are also responsible for researching and drafting original legislation that is responsive to Council policy initiatives.

Snohomish County Council currently has open one Legislative Analyst position that supports the Planning & Community Development Committee which works directly with the following departments: Planning and Development Services, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DNCR), Snohomish County Airport and the Office of Hearings Administration. This position also provides technical expertise and project management for the Council on issues related to comprehensive planning. The committee may address other issues from time to time.

The analysts prepare their research for Council review and present their findings through staff reports given at public meetings. The analyst may attend meetings both at and away from the County's campus (located in Everett) and may attend meetings that occur both during the day and in the evenings. The analyst will provide coverage for other Council analysts in other Council Committees as needed and assigned.

Movement from Legislative Analyst (Pay Grade 111) to Legislative Analyst Senior (Pay Grade 113) is at the sole discretion of the County Council.

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Reviews, researches, and analyzes policy, financial, and budget issues related to Council actions and initiatives.
2. Presents analysis and recommendations to councilmembers, committees, inter-departmental and multijurisdictional teams through written reports, oral presentations, and visual aids.
3. Participates in the review, evaluation, and adoption of county budgets, analyzes revenue, expenditures, and staffing; coordinates with executive departments to support the Council’s budgetary review needs.
4. Manages assigned projects and tasks as part of the Council’s workplan; provides periodic updates to Council committees; coordinates with departments for project completion.
5. Evaluates and analyzes impacts of Council work programs, proposed or enacted state legislation, annexations, incorporation, revenue and bonding proposals.
6. Provides staff support of Council committees, preparing agendas, briefing materials, and options for committee actions; ensures timely distribution of information and tracks committee minutes and records.
7. Provides budget analysis, evaluates special budget requests, and offers recommendations on funding and staffing.
8. Identifies legal questions, seeks advice from legal counsel, and incorporates legal guidance into policy analysis.
9. Maintains communication and liaison with executive departments and other jurisdictions in assigned subject areas, identifying and alerting Council to major issues, activities and potential problem areas.
10. While maintaining confidence, assists individual Councilmembers by preparing briefing papers and reports, responding to constituent inquiries, and representing them on intergovernmental bodies as needed.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES:

1. Researches, analyzes, and develops Council initiatives related to comprehensive planning, economic development, natural resource management, land use and related activities or topics; prepares legislation for Council consideration.
2. Collaborates with the legislative analysts to review policy and legislative recommendations from the executive and Planning Commission; analyze the legal, fiscal and policy impacts and presents findings to Council.
3. Develops and recommends integrated land use, environmental, and community development plans, formulating long and short range strategies and regulations.
4. Represents Council in coordinating planning programs with external agencies and jurisdictions; presents recommendations to policymakers and the public. Represent the Council and serve as a liaison to other governmental entities in the coordination of major planning programs with other agencies and jurisdictions. Make presentations on policy recommendations and plan proposals to policy makers at all governmental levels and the general public.
5. Conducts economic, demographic and other special studies; projects and forecasts; collects and analyzes data; develops work plans and schedules; formulates and recommends options and solutions.
6. Serves as the Council’s representative on various technical advisory committees, commissions and interest groups. Coordinates the formation of various groups as necessary.
7. Assists Councilmembers and legislative aides in responding to questions and resolving planning related issues for members of the public.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

Performs other related duties as assigned by Chief of Staff or Councilmembers.

Any combination of work experience and education totaling at least nine years which provides the skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position; emphasis on analytics, planning and development, and verbal and written communication skills. Progression from Legislative Analyst - Land Use to this classification is at the sole discretion of the County Council.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• principles and practices of urban planning and design including land use laws, codes and policies;
• principles and practices of public administration and policy analysis;
• research and data collection techniques;
• federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations governing the structure and operations of county government;
• geographical and political aspects of work related areas;
• computer word processing, spreadsheet and database applications.

Ability to:

• assess potential impact of social and economic trends on county programs;
• gather, analyze, synthesize, organize and evaluate a variety of data including revenue and expenditure data;
• conduct objective and unbiased analysis and evaluation of the economic, political and social impacts and consequences of laws, rules, regulations, technical reports, planning data, legal documents, and legislative policies and actions;
• conduct legal research and prepare a variety of legal documents including sections of the county code, ordinances and resolutions;
• assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of alternative courses of action including the positions of opposing interest groups involved in planning issues and possess the ability to communicate those positions to others;
• organize facts and present findings, conclusions and recommendations in a clear, concise and logical manner;
• communicate and present unbiased information in a non-partisan tone using excellent writing and presentation skills;
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with elected officials, department heads, associates, subordinates, and with the general public;
• maintain the confidentiality of information;
• exercise good judgment as to when to act independently and when to refer situations to a higher authority;
• work under pressure and meet deadlines;

SUPERVISION

The employee receives general direction from the Chief of Staff and/or individual Councilmembers. The work is characterized by a broad latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative on the employee's part. The employee reports to the Chief of Staff regarding the status of assigned projects and for advice on unusual situations.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work is performed in a hybrid office environment with occasional field trips to locations throughout the county for the purpose of attending meetings and making site visits. The employee is required to work evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary.