Job Description

PRINCIPAL PLANNER

JOB CODE 18240

Effective Date:	Rev. 07/07A

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to provide broad supervisory and management authority. Principal Planners typically supervise at least one professional planner, and several are responsible for the overall management of a planning team. Principal Planners attend and make presentations at meetings at the interdepartmental level, with external agency representatives, public bodies and Commissions, and with Mayor, Council, and City Manager representatives. Principal Planners serve their departments in a policymaking capacity, developing mechanisms for improved administrative efficiency and desirable planning/development results.

Planning and Development Services Department Principal Planners are involved in the most complex and/or controversial projects, applications, requests, and text amendments. Transit Principal Planners consult with the public and major developers pertaining to planning, zoning or transit planning problems and projects. Water Services Principal Planners produce the five-year water planning master plan and determine citywide water service needs on an annual basis. Incumbents also manage the impact fee programs and accommodate new development in a manner that is consistent with City growth. Principal Planners maintain a broad focus and a far-reaching vision of the City’s development goals. Work is performed within established policies and is accomplished with considerable independence under the general supervision of a mid-management or executive level director.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervises and coordinates the activities of planning teams in gathering information, analyzing data, preparing plans, and other City planning functions;
• Administers approved plans and ordinances;
• Meets and consults with other City officials, other jurisdictions, major developers, and the public on matters pertaining to planning, zoning, or transportation planning problems and projects;
• Assists with the administration of zoning adjustments, long range planning, special projects, site planning, or development coordination functions;
• Plans and manages the implementation of Capital Improvement Program items;
• Works on comprehensive plans or planning programs in conjunction with contiguous jurisdictions;
• Presents plans at public meetings;
• Represents the department at City Council, Planning, Surface Transportation Advisory Committee, and area planning meetings, suggesting approaches to problems and advising on the probable impacts of policy and decision alternatives;
• Participates in studies involving planning for major traffic arteries, airport expansions, and other related projects;
• Gives general guidance to the work program policy interpretation activities;
• Undertakes special staff assignments;
• Analyzes and compiles technical and statistical information and writes highly complex, technical reports;
• Evaluates the feasibility of plan alternatives in relation to costs, trends, and social pressures;
• Maintains water planning master plan and manages impact fee program;
• Evaluates legislation, supports lobbying efforts, prepares position statements;
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices of city planning, street transportation, and public administration.
• The principles and practices of engineering and physical design as generally related to city planning.
• The practices, procedures, and techniques of conducting public hearings.
• Water resources management and public policy related to city planning.

Ability to:

• Perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over others.
• Work cooperatively with other City employees and the public.
• Remain in a sitting position for an extended period of time while working at a computer keyboard, writing extensive reports, or attending meetings.
• Communicate orally in the English language with customers, clients, or the public in face-to-face one-on-one settings, or in group settings.
• Interpret graphic materials such as blueprints, layouts, base maps, or other visual aids.
• Comprehend and make inferences from written materials such as census data, surveys, previously done studies, or government document reports.
• Operate a computer, copy machine, or microfiche reader/printer requiring continuous or repetitive arm-hand movements.
• Move light objects (less than 20 pounds) long distances (more than 20 feet) when transporting recorders, projectors, or other materials to public meetings.
• Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper English sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Enter data or information into a terminal, PC, or other keyboard device.
• Review or check the work products of other to ensure conformance to standards.
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.

Additional Requirements:

• Some positions will require the performance of other essential and marginal functions depending upon work location, assignment, or shift.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Six years of experience in the field of urban planning, including one year of urban planning supervisory experience at the level of Planner III, and a bachelor's degree in city or urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture, engineering, political science, or a related field. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.