Job description
Introduction
The City of Richmond is recruiting for a Planning Technician I/II to join the Planning Division of our Community Development Department. The Planning Technician will provide zoning information to a wide variety of customers; review business license applications; review routine, non-discretionary building permit and planning applications (including applications for solar installations, small additions, new accessory dwelling units, and signs); assist planners with public notices; maintain and update the division website; coordinate with other departments to resolve planning code violations; and complete other duties as assigned.
Ideal candidates for this position will have a team player mentality, outstanding customer service skills, and excellent oral and written communication skills. Do you have the desire to make a meaningful impact in a vibrant and dynamic community? Join a collaborative workforce committed to serving the City of Richmond.
Annual salary for this classification is as high as:
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$62,304 at the top of the range for Planning Technician I
-
$73,536 at the top of the range for Planning Technician II
In addition to the salary shown, there are approved Cost of Living Adjustments over the next 2 years (beginning 1/1/2024) totaling 8%.
Additionally, City-paid benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, holidays, administrative leave days, sick time, CalPERS retirement contribution, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, annual professional development reimbursement, one week of paid parental leave, and more! All benefit information can be found in our Benefits Summary.
The City of Richmond reserves the option to hire at either the Planning Technician I or II level based on the candidate's qualifications in relation to the minimum experience required for a I or II (see minimum qualifications).
Position Description and Duties
Under general supervision, the Planning Technician I/II performs technical research, drafting and administrative support work in support of advance and current planning, General Plan review, economic development and redevelopment; performs related work as assigned.
Planning Technician I is the entry level class in this planning technical series. Initially, under close supervision, incumbents perform the more routine technical planning duties while learning City policies and procedures.
Planning Technician II is the journey level class in the series, fully competent to perform the responsible and difficult planning technical work. Assigned responsibilities include the preparation of land use and zoning exhibits for use in reports and public hearings, processing of approved subdivision maps and notifications of property owners and occupants or permits and changes in land use. This class is distinguished from Planner I in that the latter is a professional position, performing the more complex professional planning assignments.
The ideal candidate is a quick learner, has strong organizational skills, excellent judgment, and the ability to multi-task, is accurate, detailed, and focused, and has verifiable relevant work experience in a community development setting.
Desirable characteristics: self-motivated, high level of professionalism, able to work well with many personalities, committed to provide excellent customer service.
The City of Richmond is the City of Pride and Purpose and we value these traits in our employees!
The following list is intended to be illustrative in nature and does not necessarily represent the entire range of work duties expected of employees within the classification. Depending on the assigned area and the specific work of the department, duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Assists the public, other divisions and City departments on matters related to planning and zoning, including providing information related to addresses, subdivisions, census tract numbers, street locations, ownership, city/county jurisdiction and related matters; answers questions related to City codes and zoning ordinances.
- Prepares staff reports consisting of an outline of proposed planning projects for review and approval by Planning staff.
- Updates official City maps to reflect street, parcel, zoning, and land use changes; assigns census tract numbers, geo codes and addresses to approved parcel and subdivision maps; prepares computations of lot area and frontages.
- Updates and edits land use data; interprets data utilizing official field surveys, building permits, assessor and approved parcel and subdivision maps, and other authorized source documents.
- Prepares, revises and interprets legal property descriptions for zoning cases, annexations and ordinances.
- Notifies property owners and occupants within radius of subject site regarding use, variance, zoning, home occupation, historic landmark designation, street name change and related permits.
- Maintains current City maps, records and land use documents.
- Makes statistical surveys and calculations form land use inventory file.
- Performs duties related to zoning and use permit applications and conducts field checks to ensure accuracy of coded information.
- May be required to walk on rough unpaved areas such as fields or construction zones.
Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge of:
basic research methods utilized in the collection, tabulation, analysis and application of planning data; principles and methods of preparing graphics, exhibits, visual aids, maps and charts; basic computer user applications including the interpretation of input/output data; basic arithmetic concepts, including calculations of square footage; terminology, symbols, methods, techniques and instruments used in planning and map drafting, including reviewing and interpreting mapping information.
Skill in: preparing clear and accurate drawings or maps; making accurate arithmetic and statistical calculations; interpreting maps, drawings and field survey notes; preparing maps and other illustrations for presentation by Planners; maintaining organized and accurate records of maps, charts and other planning documentation; organizing work, setting priorities, meeting deadlines and making sound independent decisions within established guidelines; using tact and diplomacy in dealing with difficult people; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
Education/Experience: A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skill outlined above is:
Skill in: preparing clear and accurate drawings or maps; making accurate arithmetic and statistical calculations; interpreting maps, drawings and field survey notes; preparing maps and other illustrations for presentation by Planners; maintaining organized and accurate records of maps, charts and other planning documentation; organizing work, setting priorities, meeting deadlines and making sound independent decisions within established guidelines; using tact and diplomacy in dealing with difficult people; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
Education/Experience: A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skill outlined above is:
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Planning Technician I: One year of practical field or office experience in a technical planning, engineering, or related field. -
Planning Technician II: In addition to the above, two years of technical planning of technical planning experience equivalent to the City's Planning Technician I class.
Desirable Experience: Significant customer service experience in a Community Development setting is desirable. Some education in the Planning field would be a plus.
License/Certification: May require a valid California driver's license or access to another reliable form of personal transportation.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: It is the City’s
policy
that all persons hired on or after October 18, 2021 must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including the booster. New employees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before employment may commence. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Human Resources.
Additional Information
Application and Selection Process
To Apply:
Each applicant must
apply online and submit a complete City of Richmond Employment Application, including detailed work history and responses to the supplemental questions by the final filing date. Incomplete applications will be subject to rejection. Please fill out the Employment Application completely (including places of employment with complete addresses; i.e., number and street name, city and state, names of supervisors with telephone numbers, etc.). All communication regarding this recruitment will be via email; each applicant must apply with a monitored email address.
Qualifying Phase: All completed applications will be evaluated based on job-related qualifications criteria, which could include desirable qualifications and the specific needs of the hiring department.
Examination Phase : The most suitably qualified candidates will be asked to respond to an additional set of supplemental questions. Eligibility for placement on the Employment Lists will be solely determined by the responses to these questions (weighted 100%). For passing candidates, the candidate's qualifying experience will be used to determine placement on the Planning Technician I or II list. Having all of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement nor placement on the employment list.
Employment List: A ranking of "A" (Best Qualified), "B" (Well Qualified), or "C" (Qualified) is required to achieve a position on the employment list. The list will be in effect for a maximum of two (2) years; however, the list may be canceled, without notice, after six (6) months.
About the City of Richmond
The City of Richmond lies on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, five miles north of Berkeley and seven miles northeast across the Bay from downtown San Francisco. A hub of multimodal transportation, many of our residents and businesses are located in Richmond because of its central location and easy access to the Amtrak/Capitol Corridor, BART, AC Transit, the ferry, and two freeways (I-80 & I-580). Residents, visitors, and employees enjoy Richmond’s numerous recreational opportunities, which include 32 miles of shoreline and over 3,000 acres of shoreline parks, more segments of the Bay Trail completed than any other city, several recreational boat harbors and yacht clubs, and thousands of acres of contiguous inland regional parks and open space. The City has substantial economic resources but is still affordable compared to other Bay Area cities. Our community is welcoming, diverse, and actively engaged. Richmond is truly the City of Pride and Purpose!
Immigration Reform Control Act
In compliance with the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986, individuals offered employment by the City of Richmond will be required to show documentation of eligibility to work in the United State as a condition of employment.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The City's policy prohibits discrimination against any applicant on the basis of race, color, age, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin.
Disaster Service Workers
California Government Code Title I, Sections 3100 - 3109, declare all public employees to be Disaster Service Workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law. More information can be found here.
EOE/ADA/DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE
WEBSITE: www.ci.richmond.ca.us
Analyst: C. Selkirk
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