The Public Works and Utilities Department is looking to fill one Public Works Inspector position. The successful candidate will be appointed to the I, II, or Senior level based on qualifications and experience.

SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE

• SALARY RANGE: ( 3% COLA in July 2024 & 3% COLA in July 2025): 
  • Public Works Inspector I: $75,691.20 - $91,977.60
  • Public Works Inspector II: $83,241.60 - $101,192.00
  • Senior Public Works Inspector: $91,561.60 - $111,321.60
• FOR YOUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING: 
  • MEDICAL INSURANCE: Choice of a variety of CalPERS Health Plans. City pays ~95% of the Bay Area Kaiser premium for employee & eligible dependents; or alternative option to receive Medical Cash Back (if you have medical coverage elsewhere). Please see the2024 Health Plan Contribution Memo.
  • DENTAL & VISION INSURANCE: Coverage for employees & eligible family members, paid for by the City.
  • LIFE INSURANCE & LTD: Competitive life insurance & long-term disability benefits. Option to purchase additional life insurance. 
  • EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Support and benefits, for you and eligible family members, paid for by the City.
  • WELLNESS BENEFIT: $500 annual allowance (is subject to the annual budget approval process and may change in the future.)
• FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE:
  • CALPERS RETIREMENT PACKAGE
    • 2% at 60 for classic CalPERS members
    • 2% at 62 for PEPRA CalPERS members
  • DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Voluntary participation in your choice of three 457(b) plans.
• FOR YOUR WORK / LIFE BALANCE (annual amounts):
  • Vacation: 80 Hours, increasing with years of service
  • Sick Leave: 96 hours
  • Holidays: 12 fixed and 1 floating
• Other Exceptional Benefits:
  
  • Paid Parental Leave – up to 8 weeks of paid time off for qualifying family bonding
  • Unlimited Free Bus Rides on Petaluma Transit 
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program Employer  

Please refer to theMemorandum of Understand for Unit 3 and the Human Resources website for additional details. 

#petalumaproud

A City that Works for Everyone

Our City has an enormous amount of civic pride which celebrates multiple approaches and points of view. When we say we are a City that Works for Everyone we mean everyone. To do that well, we’re creating a workforce that is inclusive and listens to the multitude of voices and views of our employees. Diversity is an integral part of our organizational identity. Inclusion is the way we treat and perceive our differences. Equity is treating all our employees fairly and acknowledging that everyone has value. This drives our innovation, motivation and connects us even closer to our community.

Public Works Inspector I/II

Summary 

Perform inspections of public works construction projects; interpret contract specifications to ensure compliance with plans, specifications, and contract provisions.

Class Characteristics

General supervision is provided by a higher-level supervisor or manager; responsibilities may include the indirect supervision of support staff.

Public Works Inspector I

This is the entry-level class of the Public Works Inspector series. Initially, under close supervision, incumbents will perform construction inspections on a variety of private development and public works and/or utility projects including streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, sanitary sewers, potable water, storm drains, catch basins, mass and final grading, street and traffic lights, and other public work structures and facilities. This class is alternately staffed with Public Works Inspector II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency that meets the qualifications for the higher level class.

Public Works Inspector II

This is the journey-level class of the Public Works Inspector class. Incumbents work under general supervision and are fully competent to perform combination inspections involving all of the specialty areas outlined under Public Works Inspector II. Incumbents exercise independent judgment and make sound recommendations based on inspection findings. 

This class is distinguished from the Engineering Technician classes which may perform limited inspections on projects in addition to providing varied, in the office, engi­neering technical support. 

Senior Public Works Inspector 

Summary 

Monitor, coordinate, and participate in the more complex and difficult work of performing technical public works inspection; enforcing compliance with applicable City codes, regulations, and ordinances; perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility. In the course of performing the duties, this position requires independent action, discretion, and sound judgment within established management and technical guidelines.

Class Characteristics

Direction is provided by a higher-level supervisor or manager; responsibilities may include the indirect supervision of support staff.

This is a non-management, advanced journey level position distinguished by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of the duties assigned. Employees in this position perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to the Public Works Inspector classification series.

Public Works Inspector I/II

Inspect a variety of public works construction projects, such as sidewalks, driveways, sewer mains, and lateral installations, underground pipelines and hydrants, curbs and gutters, retaining walls, earthwork, street excavation and pavement restoration, street lights, traffic signals, and other buildings and facilities to determine compliance with contract plans and specifications. 

Inspect materials used, including reinforcing materials and the mix, slump and placement of concrete; use equipment such as measuring rods, tapes, surveying transits, and calculators to determine distance, location, dimension, depth, and grade and calculate volume; take samples of materials for testing. 

Prepare progress reports and change orders; act as the construction inspector on various sub­division projects and utility installations; recommend progress payments and maintain field records including sketches, photographs, drafting, and narrative notes; inspect tracts upon completion and process the necessary documents. 

Responsible for overseeing encroachment inspections, including the review and evaluation of construction plans and projects to determine bond requirements, permit conditions, and/or special condition requirements; coordinate and consult with private utility and City staff for construction projects including public impact, construction requirements, and scheduling. 

Perform site inspections to observe and document storm water practices, including sampling water run-off for analysis; administer citations advising of violations, including fine determination. 

Meet and confer with contractors, public agencies, and the general public; answer citizen complaints and requests for information; issue permits as required; monitor contractor safety practices and make on-site accident investigations as required. 

Perform basic plan checking for subdivision, resi­dential, and some commercial development; interpret plans, specifications, codes, ordinances, and policies to contractors and City staff; explain the limits and parameters of the work as required; perform various engineering technical support work, including acting as a member of a survey crew.

Perform municipal code compliance and enforcement duties as necessary.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Senior Public Works Inspector

Coordinate and review work of staff responsible for public works inspection services.

Plan and participate in routine and more complex public works inspections and services.

Train assigned employees in his/her area of work in public works inspection methods and techniques, and ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures.

Examine plans and specifications to determine compliance with the provisions of construction codes, ordinances, and regulations.

Confer with architects, contractors, builders, and the general public in the field and office.

Assist supervisors and co-workers in determining final interpretation of pertinent codes, ordinances, and regulations.

Respond to public inquiries in a courteous and professional manner; provide information within the area of assignment; and resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner.

Recommend changes in office procedures, schedules, assignments, and standards, and participates in developing and maintaining an effective, customer-oriented team.

Recommend changes or improvements in existing codes and regulations. 

Perform related duties as assigned.

Public Works Inspector I/II
Knowledge of:
Public works construction methods, materials, practices, specifications, and equipment. 
 
Methods of general engineering and public works construction
 
Basic surveying principles and practices. 
 
Applicable state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, codes, and standards.
 
Safe work practices and regulations pertaining to the work.
 
Engineering mathematics, including trigonometry and algebra.
 
Methods and techniques of materials testing.
 
Field engineering practices and basic design criteria for public works projects.
 
Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Education and Experience
Any combination equivalent to the education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to gain such knowledge and abilities would be:
 
Public Works Inspector I/II
Education:
Equivalent to graduation from high school; college level course work in pre-engineering, construction technology or a related field is highly desirable.
 
Public Works Inspector I
Experience:
One year of experience in field engineering, public works inspection, or construction or technical engineering support. 
Public Works Inspector II
 Experience:
Two years of experience in field engineering, public works inspection, or construction or technical engi­neering support.
Public Works Inspector I/II
Certifications/Licenses:
Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license.
Senior Public Works Inspector 

Knowledge of:

Materials, methods, and practices involved in engineering construction, alteration, and repair.

Applicable City regulations, standards, and ordinances governing public works construction, alteration, and repair.

Thorough knowledge of complex principles and techniques of public works inspection.

Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Education and Experience

Any combination equivalent to the education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to gain such knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Equivalent to graduation from high school.

Experience:

Three years of increasingly responsible experience as a journey-level worker in the building or construction trades.

Certifications/Licenses:

Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; and smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to perform heavy physical labor, including having sufficient strength to lift and carry tools and materials weighing up to 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee occasionally works with use of vehicle. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.