Planning Technician

Responsibilities

1. Provide good customer service to both internal and external customers, maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees (especially members of their own team), and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive.
2. Perform all functions of sign permit application process including: entering final planning staff approvals. Completing the initial contact and consultation, drafting further correspondence as required, performing initial review of size/location/illumination of the sign, conduct inspections, and arranging on-site meetings as necessary.
3. Receive and monitor complaints regarding sign/zoning violations. Handle follow-up communication and correspondence until the complaint is resolved or is forwarded to the City Prosecutor. Communicate with code enforcement staff as needed. Discuss violations and resolutions with violators. Perform onsite inspections as needed to document whether or not the complaint is resolved.
4. Create and retrieve public notice signs for all planning projects required to post public notification. Monitor and maintain inventory of materials required.
5. Deliver and retrieve planning vehicles as needed for service and maintenance.
6. Answer phone for listed duties and serve as back-up for main Development Services phone line. Resolve a wide variety of situations that arise, either by researching and/or answering questions personally or forwarding to appropriate person.
7. Maintain and close-out records for permits and inspections. Compile and submit records for archiving monthly.
8. As needed, conduct site inspections to ensure signs were installed and/or constructed in accordance with approved plans.
9. Review and accept permit applications, which includes reviewing for completeness and accuracy, entering application information into Hansen, calculating and collecting applicable fees, preparing and issuing receipts, and forwarding applications to appropriate staff for review and/or approval.
10. Deliver packets of information to commissioners and board members for meetings as needed.
11. Prepare meeting minutes and review taped meetings for Planning meetings.
12. Provide guidance to customers related to permit requirements for residential projects.
13. Review residential site plans for compliance with City codes, including building height, setbacks, utility easements, architectural standards, driveways, etc. for permit approval. Educate applicants about the requirements of a site plan as needed.
14. Assist in research, report preparation and analysis of project information as needed.
15. Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Serve as primary back-up for the residential permit program, including processing applications, distributing plans and specifications, scheduling inspections, and issuing permits and occupancy certificates.
2. Secondary duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. High school diploma or GED and two (2) years of related customer service or office experience; or Associate's degree (A.A.) from a two-year or four-year college or technical school and one (1) year of related customer service or office experience; or a Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) and one (1) year of related customer service or office experience. Experience in development or construction related field preferred.
2. Valid Driver's License.
3. Ability to work with mathematical concepts and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
4. Possess an understanding of reading and drawing site plans to scale. Know or be able to learn how to read and utilize architectural and engineering scales for reviewing permits and inspections.
5. Effectively communicate with others orally and in writing. Have the ability to read and develop a working knowledge of applicable ordinances and zoning regulations.
6. Must be proficient in the use of a computer and related software programs such as word processing and spreadsheet applications. Must be able to become proficient in the use of other related software programs such as permitting software and ArcMap.
7. Must be able to effectively operate standard office equipment.
8. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Vision abilities to perform essential functions.
9. Must possess the ability to work effectively in a front desk environment that includes regularly receiving walk-in traffic and phone calls. The noise level in the working environment is frequently elevated due to group discussions taking place in the general area. While performing the functions of this job the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.