Summary

Mission: Fort Bragg is a small town nestled between the coast and the redwoods with a strong sense of community that seeks to preserve its environment while providing resilient public facilities and infrastructure and supporting a safe and vibrant economic, multi-cultural, and recreational experience for both locals and visitors alike.

Vision: Fort Bragg, a California coastal destination with rich natural resources and rugged beauty, is transforming our future by weaving together our people, ecosystems, and economy to create community prosperity. We are making our mark in the 21st Century by creating climate-ready water and energy independence, housing and economic opportunities, accessible health care, community public safety, and education for all.

We are guided by the following Core Values:

Innovation: We highly encourage creativity and forward-thinking solutions to meet the evolving needs of our city.

Honesty & Integrity: We believe in transparent, honest, and ethical interactions with our community and stakeholders.

Service-Oriented: We are responsive to the public and to each other to demonstrate our genuine commitment to creating a Fort Bragg that Serves us today and readies us for a successful tomorrow.

Fair & Ethical: principles and practices, Fort Bragg promotes an inclusive community culture of unity and equality that openly invites everyone to enjoy our unique coastal enclave.

Collaboration: nourishes civic pride and celebrates the diversity of our city and the meaningful municipal services that our residents and businesses rely on.

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Under direction of the Community Development Director, performs complex and specialized planning work in the areas of current and long range planning, and economic development. 

Long Range Planning

• Participates in staff development programs;
• Conducts and prepares studies and recommendations for the Planning Commission, City Council, and other public committees;
• Assists with the development of guidelines, policies, ordinances and procedures pertaining to land use planning and development;
• Prepares amendments to Local Coastal Program and General Plan;
• Performs a wide variety of professional and technical work in collecting, analyzing and presenting information relative to City planning and community development functions and activities;
• Assures compliance with State-mandated Housing Element updates and prepares recommendations in support of local housing goals; and
• Completes special projects as needed.

 Current Planning

• Provides information regarding land use matters to the public;
• Provides liaison with consultants, developers and staff of other agencies on current planning activities;
• Completes development review for current planning projects, including but not limited to: coastal development permits, use permits, subdivisions, design review, CEQA and NEPA review, etc;
• Participates in project time-line management, including publication of meeting notices and agendas; and
• Prepares staff reports for the Planning Commission and City Council.
• Develops and administers planning training program for CDD staff.

 Economic Development

•  Coordinate and support grant applications and reporting;
• Support ongoing economic development programs and policies; and
• Make recommendations to City Administration and City Council on economic development efforts in Fort Bragg.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT EXEMPTION

incumbent in this class works at an advanced journey-level on both simple and complex/specialized assignments such as large physical projects with significant environmental impacts and mitigation measures, and development of new or complex general plan policies.  Incumbent works independently with minimum supervision.  Incumbent may train staff as assigned.

SUPERVISORY GUIDANCE RECEIVED/GIVEN

Supervision received is characterized by general administrative support and control rather than direct control over methods within the infrastructure of defined departmental objectives. Completed assignments may be reviewed upon completion by the Community Development Director, City Manager and/or City Attorney. Incumbent may train or oversee project work completed by other City staff. Supervisory responsibilities may be assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the most senior Planner position. Distinguishing characteristics over other Planner positions within Community Development: a highly developed ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in the pursuit of the general policies, plans and objectives prescribed for the department.  Ability to independently perform planning work and, based upon professional analysis, recommend and implement planning policy.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Current Planning

• Act as project manager for complex and larger entitlement projects and applications that require specialized knowledge and/or experience in interpretation of land use and environmental policies and regulations. Assign projects to other planners and administrative staff in the department and supervise work.
• Lead Planning Commission meetings and hearings and review staff reports from other planners and administrative staff in the department.
• Perform research and compile data for complex or controversial projects, to implement a comprehensive plan, for preparation of staff reports, for planning studies, etc.
• Interpret land use and environmental policies and regulations to the general public, applicants, consultants, and representatives of public agencies.
• Review development applications for completeness and accuracy.
• Meet with applicants to negotiate proposed permit conditions.
• Review comments from the public and City departmental staff; prepare project reports with analysis and comments for public distribution, state environmental impacts and recommendations for mitigation measures and disposition of the projects. Review data and information received from other agencies and incorporate into report recommendations and/or environmental documents.
• Process use permits, lot line adjustments, coastal development permits, design review permits, annexations and variances.
• Review preliminary and final subdivision plots for compliance with planning laws, codes, and regulations.
• Prepare and present staff reports and environmental documents to decision-makers at public hearings; assist other staff in making formal presentations on land use and environmental policies and regulations at public meetings.
• Analyze supportive materials necessary for initial environmental assessments of projects and analyze the projects in conjunction with environmental documents to determine consistency with adopted State, and City goals, policies, plans and ordinances/resolutions. Prepare Negative Declarations and other environmental documents.
• Review building permits and requests for business licenses for compliance with zoning codes and ordinances.
• Monitor construction sites and ensures compliance with mitigation measures.

Long Range Planning

• Research land use, transportation requirements, community design, resource constraints, environmental thresholds, and other development or environmental issues; analyze data to consider impacts of development policies, compute descriptive statistics from data to incorporate in report; interpret adopted State and City policies, guidelines, ordinances/resolutions, and zoning regulations for the public.
• Develop and assist with Local Coastal Program (LCP) amendments and interface as needed with California Coastal Commission staff on the City’s LCP.
• Review and make recommendations regarding General Plan amendments, zoning changes and environmental impact reports. Prepare drafts of new or revised planning and zoning ordinances.
• Assist in developing and processing amendments to City zoning and subdivision ordinances.
• Work with advisory committees and/or participate in public workshops to obtain public input on the development/revision of policies and programs.
• Write land use and environmental policies and regulations for inclusion in city ordinances, resolutions, general plan, or environmental guidelines.
• Respond to controversial issues regarding land use and environmental policies and regulations.
• Review legislation, journals, and periodicals to keep updated on new information.
• Prepare maps, charts, and other graphic information.
• Prepare and issue notices of action and permit documents.
• Perform redevelopment, advanced planning and other duties as assigned.

Administration

• Aid in the selection and management of consultants by writing requests for proposals, developing contracts, monitoring performance and billings, and reviewing technical analyses and documents.
• Staff community meetings, including meeting facilitation, agenda setting, and meeting minutes as needed.
• Attend meetings and provide management and peers with status reports on assigned projects.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including 15 semester units or 22 quarter units of course work in urban/rural and regional planning, environmental studies, or life, physical, or social sciences; and four years journey level professional experience in urban/rural and regional planning, planning policy development, or environmental review and analysis. 

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

Master’s degree in urban/rural or regional planning, environmental studies, landscape architect, architecture; and minimum of five years professional experience in urban/rural and regional planning, planning policy development, or environmental review and analysis. Work experience with a coastal city government is highly desirable. Planner qualifications verified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) or similar endorsement.

Special Instructions

Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

Additional Information

The City of Fort Bragg is hiring for one position within the Community Development Department.  The position will be filled at either the Senior Planner level or at the Community Development Director level, depending the chosen candidate's qualifications.  There is a separate job posting for the Community Development Director.