The Associate Planner plays a crucial role supporting the development, implementation, and coordination of various planning projects and initiatives within the organization. Working closely with the Senior Planner and Assistant Community Development Director, this individual provides support to the members of the Planning division to promote equitable community development through zoning regulations, affordable housing, land use, transportation, and economic development initiatives. The Associate Planner will primarily focus on short-range planning and the day-to-day administration of land use regulations and development plans.
Expected Hours of Work
Hours are typically Monday-Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. In addition to working office hours, staff may be required to work additional events. Hours may include, nights, weekends, and holidays.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform these essential functions:

1. Manage Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) applications throughout the entitlement process, including receiving applications, distributing to appropriate parties, sending legal notices, scheduling meetings and public hearings, collecting and routing memos and documents (CUPs, PUDs, permits, etc), and conducting required follow-up.
2. Support the Planning Commission and BZA by preparing agenda packets, meeting minutes, and any related reports, handling correspondence with board and commission members, setting up meeting rooms, streaming meetings online, and attending meetings as needed.
3. Assist in the development and implementation of land use planning, zone ordinances, and development regulations including reviewing land-use applications, coordinating project steps, conducting site visits as required, and ensuring compliance with City code.
4. Process all zoning permit and code violations, including reviewing applications, conducting site visits, sending correspondence, or issuing citations as required.
5. Manage and review the City’s food truck and chicken coop permitting process, including accepting applications, scheduling site visits, mailing license/permits and logging in City archives.
6. Coordinate follow-up tasks after subdivision approvals, including providing mylars to Planner and City Attorney for review, gathering signatures, sending mylars for recording with Hennepin County, and ensuring certified copy of resolution is executed.
7. Track planning actions and tasks, including records of all CUP, PUD, subdivision, rezoning, etc., and ensure completion of the ROW and easement vacation process and proper recording.
8. Responsible for data retention and records management for Planning division, including preparing documents for storage and retrieval, scanning, filing, ensuring proper adherence to City and department-specific document retention policies, and following MN Data Practices Act to respond to requests for information.
9. Assist the Planning division with community engagement initiatives, including creating and disseminating communications and notices, and preparing and attending open houses.
10. Engage with stakeholders to gather data and organize public meetings and workshops to solicit feedback, address concerns, and foster public participation.
11. Review construction plans to ensure alignment with approval criteria and regulatory standards.
12. Participate in land use studies, zoning code revisions, and long-range planning efforts to guide future growth and development.
13. Create and present staff reports, presentations, and other communication materials to effectively communicate planning recommendations, summaries, and progress updates to stakeholders.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position does not have employee supervisory responsibilities. Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, urban studies, public administration or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least 1 year of professional planning
• Experience working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc).
• Ability to complete the essential duties and responsibilities of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Desired Qualifications

• Administrative assistant experience working in municipal government.
• Experience working within MN Data Retention and Data Practices rules and regulations.
• Experience with Laserfiche, or other document management software.

Competencies

• Communication
• Customer Focus
• Teamwork
• Positive Attitude
• Hard Work
• Equity
• Inclusion
• Decision-Making
• Ethical
• Organized
• Problem Solving

Work Environment & Physical Demands
Work is conducted primarily indoors. Employees in this position generally free from work hazards. 
 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Regularly read and interpret documents and other written material. 
• Regularly communicate and exchange information with others in person, over the telephone, and using written communication methods. 
• Frequently remain in a stationary position and regularly move within the building campus to attend meetings and access files and office machinery.
• Occasionally traverse around the City to meetings or events. 
• Regularly operate computers and other office equipment, such as a copy machine, printer, and telephone, as well as equipment/tools consistently found in municipal office settings. 
• Occasionally move or transport items weighing up to 25 pounds.

EEO Statement
The City of Golden Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.