Assistant/Associate Planner

Job Description:

Assistant/Associate Planner

Description

Position Description

RECRUITMENT OVERVIEW:

Thank you for your interest in our Assistant Planner/Associate Planner position. We look forward to the opportunity to consider you as an applicant.
The City of Tulare is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Assistant or Associate Planner to join our Community Development team. This is a professional position that provides valuable support to the Planning Department's current and long-range planning functions. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong communication skills and an interest in making a positive impact on the community. We are currently recruiting to fill one immediate vacancy that will be staffed at either the Assistant or Associate level depending on the qualifications of the candidate selected. Additionally, an eligible list will be established to fill any future vacancies in this classification for a period of up to six months. The City of Tulare is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of 67,834 located in the heart of California's Central Valley. The city provides a full-range of services to our citizens. The organization, staffed with 411 full-time employees, enjoys a culture of fiscal conservatism, collaboration, teamwork and dedication to public service and our community.
To be considered for this outstanding career opportunity applicants must submit a detailed application with detailed information in each section of the application: Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Skills.

In addition to submitting a detailed application, applicants are required to respond to the supplemental questions associated with the application. Responses to the supplemental questions will be used to help us evaluate applicants’ qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities. Resumes may be attached but will not be accepted in lieu of a complete, detailed application or in lieu of detailed responses to the supplemental questions.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The primary responsibility of the Planning Division is to provide professional advice and service to the Planning Commission, City Council, City Manager and other staff members regarding all matters pertaining to planning and zoning in accordance with the scope of City Ordinances and state planning laws. The Planning staff considers a wide variety of matters, including subdivisions, zoning, annexations, conditional use permits, design review and assessment of environmental review, updating and implementation of the Tulare General Plan.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Under direct or general supervision, performs a variety of professional and technical routine to complex activities in the field of current planning, including review of development and land use applications, zoning, site plan, and environmental review; completes technical assessments, prepares written project analyses; provides professional advice and assistance to the public on planning, community development, zoning, permits, and environmental review; assists with preparation of City Ordinances; performs code enforcement, including the identification, investigation, and correction of violations of the City’s municipal, building, zoning, occupancy, signage, and housing codes; and performs related work as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives technical and functional direction and training from the Senior Planner and direct or general supervision from the Planning and Building Director. May provide technical and functional direction to lower-level staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Assistant Planner: This is the entry-level class in the Planner series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents with basic planning experience learn City systems and infrastructure, regulatory codes, laws, and ordinances, and a wide variety of practices and procedures. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence. This class is alternately-staffed with Associate Planner and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining the knowledge, skill, and experience that meet the qualifications for and demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

Associate Planner: This is the journey-level class in the Planner series that performs the full range of duties related to participating in and conducting a variety of current and advanced planning for the City. Responsibilities include providing a range of routine and complex customer services to the public at the front counter and on the telephone regarding policies and procedures, ongoing projects, zoning regulations, permit requirements, and related building and development issues. This class is distinguished from the Senior Planner in that the latter is the advanced-journey class in the series responsible for technical and functional direction over lower-level staff and is capable of performing more complex planning duties assigned to the department.

Examples of Essential Functions

(Illustrative Only) Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Compiles information for a variety of studies and reports; researches, analyzes, and interprets social, economic, population, and land use data and trends; develops recommendations and prepares written reports on various planning matters and elements of the City’s General Plan.
• Conducts studies and needs assessments for the development of programs to address significant development issues.
• Assists in the preparation of staff reports for the Planning Commission, City Council, various committees, and advisory boards as directed; prepares research reports and maps and conducts briefings; attends meetings for the Planning Commission and City Council meetings as assigned.
• Reviews commercial, industrial, and residential development proposals, plans, and applications for issuance of zoning clearance; reviews for compliance with appropriate regulations and policies.
• Inspects properties and structures for compliance with appropriate City zoning codes and regulations; identifies corrective actions to be taken by the owner; recommends improvements and rehabilitation programs; conducts follow-up inspections and re-checks as required.
• Processes permit applications; calculates appropriate fees.
• Performs plan checking of permit requests; confers with and provides information to developers, engineers, architects, property owners, contractors, and others regarding City development policies and standards; provides and clarifies information relative to zoning, general plan compliance, signage, and other issues; resolves complaints and problems.
• Screens and evaluates applications for home occupation and conditional use permits, design review, signs, lot merger/adjustments, variance, subdivision, and parcel maps; confers with applicants and project sponsors on presented plans and designs; reviews lot line adjustments/mergers.
• Researches and assists in preparing ordinances for review.
• Participates in the development of department policies and procedures; processes Municipal code and General Plan amendments; conducts legislative analysis.
• Checks planning records to identify maps that require updating; identifies changes recorded in Assessor’s parcel books; computes acreage and frontages.
• Participates in coordinating City planning and development related activities with other City departments and with outside agencies.
• Assists the public at the front counter; answers questions and provides information to the public; receives and reviews applications for completeness and compliance; investigates complaints and recommends corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints concerning the City’s planning function.
• Reviews business licenses for compliance with zoning ordinances.
• Prepares, processes, and maintains variety of correspondence, maps, graphs, reports, legal documents, and other written materials.
• Monitors project budget expenditures.
• Assigns addresses to new development; communicates with other agencies regarding addressing.
• Implements special programs and projects, including work related to the 2010 Census.
• Prepares request for proposals; evaluates proposals and makes recommendations; monitors consultants’ work.
• Provides testimony in court on alleged violations.
• Assists in setting up Planning Commission meetings.
• Represents the City in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, developers, and the public.
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and procedures related to city and regional planning, development, and zoning administration.
• Geographic, socio-economic, transportation, political, and other elements related to city planning.
• Comprehensive plans and current planning processes and the development process.
• Site planning and architectural design principles.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Researching and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning and zoning.
• Principles, practices, and procedures of code enforcement.
• Modern office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment, including computer hardware and software necessary for graphic presentation, mapping, and database management, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, City permitting software, and basic GIS concepts and applications.
• Practices of researching planning issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
• Mathematical and statistical principles including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Safe driving principles and practices.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and with property owners, developers, contractors, and the public.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Interpret, analyze, and apply policies, procedures, laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to assigned programs and functions including California planning Law, the Subdivision Map Act, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and land use and zoning.
• Read, interpret, and apply a variety of technical information from reports, maps, plans, specifications, drawings, layouts, blueprints, schematics, and legal descriptions.
• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public.
• Identify and respond to issues and concerns of the public, Planning Commission, City Council, and other boards and commissions.
• Analyze site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services.
• Enforce ordinances and regulations effectively and tactfully.
• Make effective public presentations.
• Conduct routine research projects, evaluate alternatives, and make sound recommendations.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.
• Prepare clear and concise technical and staff reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Learn current literature, information sources, and research techniques in the field of urban planning.
• Prepare accurate display maps, plans, charts, and tables.
• Effectively represent the Department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and individuals.
• Analyze and compile technical and statistical information and prepare reports.
• Respond to complaints or inquiries from citizens, staff, and outside organizations.
• Maintain accurate and precise records.
• Make accurate mathematic and statistical computations.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

• Members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). In accordance with the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), the City of Tulare will offer the following retirement benefit (2.0% at 62) to new PERS members beginning January 1, 2013 with three (3) years final compensation. Existing PERS members with no break in service will receive the 2.5% at 55 formula with single highest year.
• City pays a portion of the employee and dependent coverage costs of group medical, dental and vision insurance. An opt-out plan is also available.
• Life insurance - $20,000 coverage.
• 10 working days vacation per year. Additional days based on years of service.
• 12 days sick leave per year.
• 15 holidays annually: 12 city observed holidays, plus birthday credit and 2 in-lieu holidays.
• Flexible benefit program - IRS Section 125 Plan.
• Deferred compensation plan - 457 Plans available.
• City sponsored employee health care clinic - Services include: general medical care and health and wellness coaching. No deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses.

Closing Date/Time: 9/28/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$68,232.00 - $94,245.84 Annually