Planning Intern

City of El Monte•El Monte, CA

11h•Onsite

About The Position

Under direct supervision, assists assigned planning staff and management with a variety of technical and administrative support activities related to the City's planning and community development functions. This classification is used to provide college students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a professional setting while pursuing a degree in urban planning or a related field. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise. Since this class operates in a learning capacity, interns may have only limited or no directly related work experience.

Requirements

Concurrent enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program in urban planning, land development or a related field at an accredited college or university.
Basic principles and practices of urban and regional planning and zoning.
Operational characteristics of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and their application to planning processes.
Basic concepts of architecture, and landscaping, as they relate to the process of urban planning.
City planning and permitting processes.
Principles of landscaping as applied to construction and maintenance of project areas.
Methods and techniques of conducting and documenting site inspections.
Methods and techniques of reviewing a diverse range of applications for accuracy and completeness.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
Researching and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation.
Record keeping principles and practices.
Business mathematics.
City and mandated safety rules, regulations and protocols.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public; identify and respond to issues and concerns of the public.
Read plans and specifications and make site visits.
Read, interpret, apply, and explain technical written material and Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, regulations, ordinances, and City planning policies and procedures.
Receive and respond to routine questions from the general public, contractors and developers or refer to higher level planning staff.
Review applications for accuracy and completeness; process and/or submit to planning staff for action.
Conduct routine research on planning and zoning related matters and prepare findings.
Read and understand technical drawings and specifications.
Perform mathematical computations with precision.
Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems for assigned projects.
Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
Use geographic information system software and create graphics either hand drawn and/or through use of computer software.
Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Nice To Haves

None

Responsibilities

Assists professional planning staff in the collection of data and preparation of staff reports, presentations, zoning letters, application forms/handouts and public notifications.
Assists professional planning staff in reviewing construction plans for compliance with design guidelines, zoning standards and landscape requirements.
Assists professional planning staff with presentations at public meeting and events.
Performs research related to special projects and other key issues in the planning division.
Creates, updates, and maintains files and databases to organize planning records.
Assembles the local address file, with residential and non-residential addresses, with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) support.
Updates and maintains the City's address file.
Performs or accompanies planning staff on site visits to confirm uses and addresses.
Performs other duties as assigned.