Utilities Permitting Technician

This position is responsible for customer service and technical work involving receiving and processing applications for water and wastewater service for all residential and commercial projects along with other support functions. Bargaining unit position.

The employee in this class of work is responsible for performing tasks of more than average difficulty in: providing the first level of support for all customers (phone, e-mail and walk-ins) on how to apply and permit service request applications; complex records keeping; administrative and financial activities; and, related support duties. The exercise of reasonable initiative and independent judgment is required in the interpretation of permitting requirements and regulations. Because public contact is an integral part of the job, considerable tact and courtesy are required. Work is performed under general supervision with assistance available from higher level technical/professional personnel in dealing with problems and technically demanding questions, and is reviewed through observation and spot checking of documents processed.

Serves as residential and commercial permitting liaison between the Water Department, Wastewater Department, the Construction Services Division and the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission; receives and processes applications for water and wastewater service for all residential and commercial projects in order to establish water and wastewater service for the project, collect related fees and release building permits.

Discusses with and provides advice to customers (walk-in, telephone and e-mail) on how to apply for and permit the service request applications; receives applications and plumbing plans, site plans, collects fees and prepares receipts for customers, creates file for each service request application; researches and assembles information needed for planning engineers to determine methods and improvements needed to provide water and wastewater service to new commercial projects and subdivisions.

Reviews and approves applications and plumbing plans for the interior remodel and finish projects; researches and approves other documents for permitting requirements – State of Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants On-site Sewage Evaluation and Seating Change Evaluation, City of Tampa demolition permits, and Verification of Availability of Infrastructure application; writes commitment letters and reviews those prepared by others, forwards for engineer’s signature; copies, scans and mails to appropriate personnel.

Places and removes “Miscellaneous Action” holds on projects requiring additional money or documents; removes water and sewer holds from building permits on none to minor plumbing and septic tank projects.

Provides atlas and as-built information to assists customers, engineers and developers on the methods and improvements need to provide water and wastewater service to proposed projects.

Works with Design Division to prepare and mail FDEP applications for department’s inhouse projects; discusses general requirements for submitting and permitting FDEP applications with commercial engineer-of-record; verifies accuracy of data and approves to form the separate applications being submitted by the engineer-of-record on commercial development projects; provides and enters information for the City of Tampa portion of the application; once construction or as-built approval has been granted, obtains signature from Chief Engineer, copies and mails to engineer-of-record.

Updates and maintains the department’s service request database used to track developer projects and records information on these projects which is used for developing and updating statistics used for permit compliance and regulatory issues.

Updates and maintains service requests files; closes files out, sends files to archives and maintains archive file list; is responsible for retrieving and replacing various service request files that are needed for research.

Performs various support duties as needed such as receiving plans and as-builts and serving as receptionist.

Performs related work as required.

Knowledge of: standard office practices and procedures; Microsoft Office applications; utility construction permitting; municipal rules, regulations and ordinances relating to residential and commercial water and wastewater service. Some knowledge of: basic building and utilities construction; state regulations relating to water and wastewater services.

Ability to: read and interpret plans and applications and provide guidance to customers; perform basic mathematical calculations with accuracy; read and comprehend codes and requirements; complete forms and other documents; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, developers, engineers, and the public.

Mostly sedentary, indoors, requires extended use of computer, typing and viewing a monitor.

Graduation from an accredited high school and one (1) year of administrative or technical experience (drafting, surveying, plans review or other construction technology) to include permit processing and support; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Possession of a valid drivers license may be required.

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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