Planner I

City of Ocala•Fl 34471, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a professional planning position in the City's Planning Department carrying out research projects, independent studies, and responding to public inquiries. The role involves researching and preparing comments for various cases, conducting specialized planning studies, reviewing site plans and traffic studies, and contributing to the comprehensive plan. The position also involves performing annexation analysis, reviewing tree removal applications, providing staff support to city boards, designing project maps, responding to public inquiries, compiling statistical information, and identifying and administering grant programs.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, geography, public administration, or related field.
Minimum of 1-year related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid Florida operator driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and policy/procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane, algebra, solid geometry and trigonometry.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of known variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram formats.
Occasional personal computer support, technical help, and/or, basic software support, database analysis, level I technician, project coordination, installation and help desk.
Regular contacts with patrons where the contacts are initiated by the employee. Involves both furnishing and obtaining information and, also, attempting to influence the decisions of those persons contacted. Contacts of considerable importance and of such nature, that failure to exercise proper judgment may result in important tangible or intangible losses to the organization.
Contacts with other departments or offices and also frequently with individuals in middle level positions; consulting on problems which necessitate judgment and tact in presentation to obtain cooperation or approval of action to be taken. Also, important contacts with associates as required in advanced supervisory jobs, plus frequent contact with senior level internal officials.
Advanced: Presentation/PowerPoint, Spreadsheet, Word Processing/Typing
Intermediate: Database
Basic: Accounting, Payroll Systems, Programming Languages
Continuously required to sit, talk, or hear.
Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms.
Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste or smell.
Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.
Must be able to present ideas and findings clearly and concisely in written and oral form.
Must be able to think in terms of spatial relationships and visualize the effects of their plans and designs.
Must have strong analytic and problem-solving abilities.
Should be flexible and able to reconcile different viewpoints and to make constructive policy recommendations.
Must be able to work with others in-group settings and independently.
Must have strong interpersonal and customer service abilities.
Has working knowledge of planning regulations, urban planning and growth management laws in Florida.
Ability to apply planning concepts, practices, and procedures in performing the majority of duties while working under general supervision.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other city departments or governmental agencies, neighborhood groups, members of community-based organizations, developers, engineers and consultants.
Requires occasional participation in public speaking and presentation engagements.
Requires exercising judgment in applying the principles of planning and departmental policies and objectives to a variety of situations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of neighborhood planning and historic preservation is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Researches and prepares staff comments for zoning, land use, annexation, special exception, and variance cases.
Researches specialized planning studies such as land use, traffic, economic base, utilities, neighborhood, and housing studies.
Reviews and prepares staff comments on site plans according to the Land Development Regulations.
Helps review traffic studies and coordinates comments with senior staff and other departments.
Researches and writes elements or revisions to elements of the comprehensive plan.
Performs annexation analysis.
Reviews and either approves or denies tree removal applications in accordance with the City's Tree Preservation Code.
Provides staff support to one or more of the following city boards: City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Downtown Development Commission, North Magnolia CRA Advisory Board, Ocala Tree Commission or West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council.
Designs and develops project maps and databases as needed.
Meets with members of the public, outside firms, other governmental agencies, etc. to verbally respond to questions on subjects relevant to a specific area or to planning in general.
Compiles and analyzes statistical information.
Identifies grant programs, prepares applications, and administers grants.
Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.