Planning Technician

City of La Mirada; La Mirada (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

City of La Mirada is seeking a part-time Planning Technician to support current and long-range planning efforts. You will assist residents at the counter, handle routine planning applications, and help prepare reports, maps, and notices.

The role involves research, field observations, and providing staff support to professional planners, with some evening or weekend meetings possible.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or equivalent; college coursework in urban planning or related field is desirable.
• Experience in public counter or front-line customer service is preferred.
• Knowledge of zoning, land use regulations, and development standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide information on zoning, land use, and development regulations to the public.
• Review routine planning applications and permits in line with policies.
• Prepare reports, maps, graphics, and public notices for staff and meetings.
• Assist with community outreach and staff support for planning projects.

Skills

Public counter / customer service

Zoning & land use knowledge

Research & data analysis

Communication skills

GIS software

Education

High school diploma

College coursework in urban planning

Tools

GIS (ArcGIS)

Job description

Approx. 25 to 30 hours per week

Under general supervision, performs a variety of technical and administrative planning duties in support of current and long-range planning activities, including providing information regarding zoning, land use, and development regulations; reviewing and processing routine planning applications and permits; conducting research; preparing reports, maps, graphics, and public notices; assisting customers at the public counter and by telephone and email; assisting with community outreach activities; providing support to professional planning staff; and performing other related work as assigned.

Planning Technician is a technical-level classification that provides support to the professional Planner series. This class is distinguished from the Assistant Planner in that assignments are generally routine in nature, performed within established policies and procedures, and typically do not require the independent performance of professional-level planning analysis. The Planning Technician works under the direction of professional planning staff and may perform increasingly responsible assignments as knowledge and experience are gained.

SUPERVISION

Supervision is provided by the Community Development Director or their designee.

The duties listed below are illustrative of the types of work performed and are not intended to be all-inclusive. The omission of a specific duty does not exclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the classification.

Public Counter & Customer Service

• Assists the public, property owners, business owners, applicants, and other interested parties by providing information regarding zoning, land use, development standards, application procedures, and applicable local and state regulations.
• Responds to inquiries in person, by telephone, and by email regarding zoning, land use, development standards, and other development-related matters.
• Provides zoning and planning information at the public counter and assists customers with routine planning and development questions.

Planning Application & Plan Review

• Receives, reviews, and processes routine planning applications and other land use-related submittals in accordance with established procedures
• Reviews plans, site plans, and other development documents for compliance with applicable zoning requirements and development standards
• Assists professional planning staff with the review and processing of development applications, permits, and other planning-related matters.

Research, Field Work & Technical Support

• Conducts research and gathers, organizes, and analyzes planning-related information and data in support of Planning Division activities.
• Conducts field surveys and site inspections to document existing conditions and verify compliance with applicable planning requirements.
• Prepares technical information, reports, correspondence, maps, graphics, exhibits, and other materials for staff reports, presentations, meetings, and planning projects.

Public Notices & Community Outreach

• Prepares and disseminates public hearing notices, property owner notices, and other required planning-related notifications in accordance with established procedures and applicable regulations.
• Assists with community outreach activities related to planning initiatives, including public meetings, workshops, community events, and other engagement activities.
• Attends public meetings, workshops, and community events, which may occasionally occur during evenings or weekends, to provide staff support, distribute information, and assist with gathering community input.

Records & Administrative Support

• Assists with maintaining Planning Division records, files, databases, applications, permits, and other planning-related documents.
• Provides administrative and technical support to professional planning staff and assists with special projects and departmental activities.
• Adheres to City and departmental policies and procedures and performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: Basic principles, practices, terminology, and procedures of municipal planning and land use regulation. General Plan, zoning, development standards, and related planning principles. Basic principles of architecture, site planning, mapping, and development plan review. Research methods and techniques for gathering, organizing, and presenting planning-related information. Applicable local and state laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to land use and development. Basic map, site plan, and technical drawing symbols, terminology, and conventions. Principles and practices of effective customer service and public interaction. Modern office practices, recordkeeping methods, and standard business correspondence. Computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, databases, electronic permitting systems, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). General organization and functions of municipal government.

Ability to: Understand, interpret, explain, and apply zoning regulations, development standards, policies, procedures, and other planning-related requirements. Review routine planning applications, site plans, development plans, maps, drawings, and related documents for completeness and compliance with established requirements. Read and interpret maps, plans, technical drawings, property information, and other planning-related documents. Conduct research, gather, organize, and summarize data; and prepare routine reports, correspondence, notices, maps, graphics, and other planning materials. Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing. Provide courteous and effective customer service to residents, property owners, business owners, applicants, developers, contractors, and other members of the public. Use computer applications, databases, electronic permitting systems, and GIS applications in the performance of assigned duties. Maintain accurate records, files, databases, and tracking systems. Exercise sound judgment and perform assignments within established policies, procedures, and guidelines. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, applicants, consultants, contractors, public agencies, and the general public. Attend and work occasional evening and weekend meetings, workshops, and community events, as required.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Graduation from high school or equivalent is required, supplemented by college-level coursework in Urban Planning, Architecture, Urban or Environmental Studies, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or a closely related field. A bachelor’s degree in one of these fields, or current enrollment and satisfactory progress toward completion of such a degree, is desirable.

One year of experience providing public counter, front-line customer service, or other customer-facing support is required. Experience in a planning, building, engineering, community development, municipal government, or related environment is desirable.

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License is required.

Appointments are normally made at the first step of the salary range. Consideration and approval for a salary higher than the first step is done on a case-by-case basis.