Urban Planner II

An employee in this class performs a variety of professional program/project planning activities which impact municipal development and resource allocation processes.  Tasks are of more than average difficulty and include analyzing data and formulating and recommending plans and programs relevant to municipal conditions and needs.  Knowledge of planning principles and practices and application of analytical and cognitive skills are essential to work performed.  Employees are usually assigned to address long- and/or short-range planning activities pertaining to such particular subject areas as capital improvements, leisure services, development, or human services requiring possession of or ability to readily assimilate knowledge of specific programs, conditions and needs.  Reasonable initiative and independent judgment are necessary in performing analytical tasks and developing and presenting recommendations and documents.  Work is performed under direction and reviewed through conferences, reports submitted, and results obtained.

Develops, drafts, revises, and recommends program/project plans to address the economic, social, and physical problems and needs of the city; develops broad or particularized plans, documenting existing conditions, needs, goals, objectives, policies, work programs, and implementation strategies; revises and documents plans to address changing conditions and needs and to facilitate plan implementation.  

Collects, assimilates, analyzes, and interprets data and indicators regarding municipal conditions; prepares projections of changes in conditions and needs for specific services and programs; reviews legislation, court decisions, guidelines, rules, and regulations pertinent to activities to ensure compliance with federal, state and municipal law.  

Formulates and recommends procedures, guidelines, alternatives, and priorities for implementation of plans and grant projects and their subsidiary components; monitors program/project progress and recommends modifications as necessary.  

Reads and interprets blueprints, technical drawings and diagrams, plans and specifications, etc. to facilitate proper construction; maintains on-going monitoring of contracts to ensure compliance with regulations or requirements; develops and documents working maps citing real property parcels descriptions and tax information data; reviews drawings submitted by contractors to assure compliance with plans and specifications; maintains records and files of resolutions, ordinances,  petitions, and other documentation related to council actions to ensure preservation of government documents.  

Researches, identifies, reviews, and analyzes potential funding sources; develops and drafts grant requests for funds to implement planned/approved programs and projects; participates in grant project administration including budget formulation, project management, monitoring and closure activities.  

Evaluates plans and proposals prepared by outside agencies and makes recommendations regarding soundness and relevance to municipal needs and plans; negotiates contract terms for conduct of projects with outside agencies.  

Prepares statistical reports in order to provide data to public, other departments; conducts or participates in meetings and public hearings to discuss, develop, or explain plans and recommendations; maintains liaison with representatives of other departments and outside agencies to determine planning needs and provide assistance; serves on various committees representing department or municipal interests; provides technical planning advice and guidance to study committees and community groups.  

Coordinates with utility engineers, power, telephone, gas, water, and sewer representatives to locate utility lines for projects; reviews professional and governmental publications to maintain awareness of planning developments and changes in programs and regulations.  

Conducts information searches of tax records, deeds, abstracts, court records, aerial photos, private surveys, and other sources as required; utilizes catalogs, bibliographies, indexes, adopted plans, document searches, and personal contacts to determine availability/location of information.  

Performs related work as required.

Knowledge of: the principles and practices of urban planning; federal, state, and municipal legislation and regulations impacting municipal government planning efforts; research techniques and data sources; methods and techniques of reports and grant application preparation; planning principles, practices, and program content in a particular subject area might be required; grant administration practices/procedures might be required.   

Ability to:  conduct research and analytical activities independently; collect, assimilate, analyze, and interpret data and draw sound conclusions; prepare oral and/or written reports and impart them effectively; formulate sound recommendations and present them effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, municipal officials, and the general public.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in planning, public administration, or a related field and one (1) year of urban planning or related experience. 

An equivalent combination of education (not less than possession of a high school diploma/GED), training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above.

Some positions might require specialized training or experience as a condition for initial employment in this class.

Possession of a valid drivers license is preferred.

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

Employees may be required to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays and overtime as needed. During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.

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