Development Review Technician

City of Watsonville•Watsonville, CA

16h•Onsite

About The Position

Provides technical, administrative, and complex support for all aspects of the development review process, which includes planning, public works, fire, zoning, plan review, building inspection, permit issuance, and related areas such as housing and code enforcement. This role involves providing information to the public at a counter or over the telephone and performing related work as assigned. This is an advanced journey lead supervisor level class where incumbents become competent in performing day-to-day responsibilities of providing development, housing, and building information to the public, processing plans and permit applications, and providing technical support to departmental staff. This class supports all functional areas of development review.

Requirements

Standard office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.
Recordkeeping principles and practices.
Business arithmetic.
Computer applications related to the work, including data entry and standard report generation.
Correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Techniques for dealing with the public, in person and over the telephone, often in situations involving conflicts.
Codes and regulations related to the work.
Policies and procedures related to the development review, plan checking and building permitting processes.
Basic planning, public works, fire, building and zoning principles and practices.
Blueprint reading.
Basic research techniques.
Ability to learn and perform specialized development support and building permitting work.
Ability to read and understand development plans and specifications.
Ability to read, understand, apply and explain laws, codes, regulations and procedures.
Ability to analyze and resolve specific development application, plan review and permit questions and issues.
Ability to make effective recommendations for policy, procedure and customer service improvements.
Ability to make accurate arithmetic calculations.
Ability to maintain accurate records of plans submitted, fees received and work performed.
Ability to prepare clear and concise correspondence and other written materials.
Ability to gather and assemble data and prepare routine reports.
Ability to work under limited supervision in standard work situations.
Ability to use initiative and independent judgement within established procedural guidelines.
Ability to work in a methodical and organized manner.
Ability to lift from 1-15 lbs. daily to 40 lbs. occasionally.
Ability to stand and walk for at least six hours per day.
Ability to work indoors in an office environment subject to heat/cold and fragrances such as ammonia and perfumes.
Ability to work effectively and maintain a calm demeanor under stressful conditions and with frequent interruptions.
Ability to correctly operate one or more calculators, multi-function telephones, personal computers, printers, copiers and fax machines, and a two-way radio requiring fine hand manipulation.
Ability to drive an automobile.
Ability to speak English effectively to communicate in person or over the telephone.
Graduation from high school and three years of office support experience, which has included explaining procedures and regulations, preferably in a public agency setting.
Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License and a safe driving record.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a planning, building, contracting, public works or a related field is highly desirable.
Possession of an Associate of Arts degree in building, construction technology or a related technical field is desirable, and such education may be substituted for related experience on a year-for-year basis.
Ability to speak Spanish highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Provides information regarding development, planning, public works, fire, zoning, permit requirements, housing, code enforcement and related processes to developers, contractors, property owners and the public at a public counter or over the telephone.
Interprets and applies specific codes, rules and regulations related to the development review process, including building, planning, housing, public works, code enforcement and those of a variety of departments and divisions.
Receives plans and other construction documents for review; ensures that applications and sets of plans are complete and contain the required information for submittal and review and that contractors possess appropriate insurance and bonding documentation.
Calculates plan review, inspection, impact, traffic, water and affordable housing fees, collects funds and issues receipts, balances monies received on a regular basis.
Issues basic permits after initial review and approval of materials where covered by procedures and guidelines such as roofing, water heater, and simple permits including the renovation of single-family homes.
Identifies and resolves customer problems; directs the public to the proper department or determines the information required.
Tracks and monitors status of development plan reviews; prepares standard periodic and special reports as required; researches files regarding prior actions, decisions and development activities and other information related to the property under review.
Participates in the introduction of new technology as needed to advance the Department’s capabilities to serve customers effectively and efficiently.
Provides input into departmental procedural and processing issues; recommends policy and procedural improvements related to counter activities or areas of responsibility.
Recommends changes to codes, rules and regulations, forms and procedures to correct identified problems and to help ensure the process is efficient, effective and fair.
Prepares policy and procedures associated to the development process at the direction of the Permit Center Manager.
Checks Business License applications for conformity with the Zoning and Building Codes.
Performs a variety of technical and standard office support work; enters information into an automated data management system; obtains reproductions of microfilm or blueline copies; maintains departmental files and prepares a variety of period and special reports regarding the work of the department.
May perform basic field inspections and/or plan reviews as assigned by the Permit Center Manager/Building Official.
Performs special projects assigned by the Permit Center Manager/Building Official related to the Department.