Salary: $4,990-$6,065 Monthly (DOE)
Department: Administration
Reports To: Public Works Director
FLSA: Exempt
Closing: Open Until Filled
First Review: June 13, 2022

Job Description:

The City is currently accepting applications for the position of City Planner.

This position is responsible for both short-range and long-range planning for the City as well as supporting other departments on major City Projects.

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, WA State Department of Retirement PERS plan. Also includes paid vacation, holidays, and other leave per the City’s Personnel Policies.

(Note – this list is not all-inclusive but a general list of duties and responsibilities for this position. The employee is also expected to meet other standards of performance. Employee may also perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or to meet current workload needs.)

  • Respond to public inquiries by phone, email, and in-person with information on planning projects, processes, codes and policies.
  • Evaluate land use and building permit requests for compliance with governmental ordinances and polices.
  • Ensure legal and public notice deadlines and requirements are met for land use permits.
  • Prepare and present reports to City Council, Planning Commission, community groups, private organizations, and staff to explain the impact of projects and developments.
  • Coordinate the preparation or administration of plans, land use regulations, design standards, information systems, or planning programs.
  • Manage and update the City’s long-range including:
    • GMA-Comprehensive Plan
    • GMA-Development Regulations
    • GMA-Critical Areas
    • Shoreline Master Program
    • Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan
    • Water System Plan
    • Sewer System Plan
  • Manage and update the City’s short-range planning including:
    • Permit application processing for:
      • Conditional Use Permits
      • Zoning Variances
      • Lot Line Adjustments
      • Short Subdivisions
      • Long Subdivisions
      • Subdivision Variances
      • Final Plat Approval
  • Inter-agency coordination between:
    • All City Departments
    • Whatcom County Planning
    • City/County Planner Group
    • Whatcom Council of Governments
    • State Department of Ecology
    • State Department of Commerce
    • County Department of Emergency Management (DEM)
    • County River and Flood
  • Manage and prepare SEPA Reviews, Code Updates, Public Works Projects, GIS Mapping, Grants.
  • Investigate and enforce violations of local codes and ordinances.
  • Manage projects.
  • Perform other tasks as assigned.

Other Potential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide back-up support to the Public Works Director or other departments as needed.
  • Compose, input, and edit a variety of correspondence, memoranda, and other material requiring judgment as to content, accuracy, and completeness.

Work Schedule:

This position works a 40-hour workweek schedule (Monday through Friday).

Travel:

This position will have the opportunity to travel overnight on an occasional basis for training and other professional development.

Qualification Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, the person in this position must be able to legally work in the United States and be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor of Arts degree in planning or a related field such as geography, economics, political science or environmental studies, or any combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

Applicant must possess:

  • A valid Washington State driver’s license
  • Current CPR & First Aid certification or be able to obtain them within six months of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

  • Principles, practices, regulations, and techniques in the field of municipal land use planning.
  • General familiarity with legal foundations of planning.
  • Municipal administration, ordinances, statues and other legal processes.
  • Research methods and ability to compile and analyze original data.
  • Public participation techniques and best practices.
  • Basic cartography, graphic design and the use of Geographic Information Systems.

Skills & Abilities to:

  • Organize and participate in public involvement process and to communicate ideas to the public effectively.
  • Write clear and concise reports and plans.
  • Establish successful working relationships with public officials, City staff, consultants, community members and citizens.
  • Work under pressure and/or frequent interruptions.
  • Work independently and make decisions on multiple projects at the same time.
  • Use a computer and applicable software related to job duties including word processing (Microsoft Word), spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel), presentation preparation (Microsoft PowerPoint), GIS fundamentals, database software, file management programs such as OneDrive or SharePoint.
  • Use remote/virtual meeting programs (Microsoft Teams or Zoom).
  • Prioritize work to meet deadlines.

Working Conditions and Physical Abilities:

Work is performed in an office or conference room setting, through computer based virtual meetings, and occasionally outdoors. A moderate amount of local travel is involved in construction site visits and facility and area tours. Consequently, the incumbent is exposed to occasional inclement weather and the normal transportation and construction activity such as high noise levels, moving vehicles and machines, dust and mud, and traversing of exposed and sometimes insecure walkways and platforms. May wear protective clothing and equipment such as hard hat, gloves, goggles, and safety vest. Work requires some exertion such as climbing, walking over rough surfaces and loose material; crouching, bending, stooping and reaching; and lifting of light to moderately heavy items. Work requires average physical agility
and dexterity.

How to Apply:

If interested, please submit a resume and cover letter to Jennifer Bell at jbell@cityofsumas.com or by mail at PO Box 9, Sumas, WA 98295