PAY RANGE: N24

CITY PLANS OFFICER

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is second level supervisory and technical work directing a unit engaged in urban street system layout, design and related technical research and providing guidance in drafting ordinances for effecting changes on the official city plan. The employee in this class directs the Streets Department’s City Plans Office responsible for processing and maintaining a large variety of official legal records, maps and data for city streets and highways. The employee in this class is the technical expert in city plans and serves as Secretary of the Board of Surveyors with responsibility for achieving procedural and legal compliance to establish new city streets and changes to existing streets. Reviewing survey district work incidental to City Plan Ordinance Compliance and coordinating activities with a large number of governmental and quasi-governmental agencies, utility companies, citizens, attorneys, and contractors are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Survey Bureau Manager.

ALLOCATING FACTORS

1. Only one position may be allocated to this class.

2. This position must be located in the Streets Department’s City Plans Office.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Serves as Secretary to the Board of Surveyors with responsibility for ensuring that all provisions and conditions of ordinances involving modification of street systems are met; directs the development of legal and procedural requirements for the official confirmation of city street plan changes; meets with Law Department employees and private attorneys to determine the proper agreement and signature relating to release forms, deeds of dedication, right-of-way grants and other documents to permit confirmation of city street plan changes and to protect the City's interest. Responsible for preparation, distribution and custody of official minutes of all Board of Surveyors meetings.

Supervises a staff engaged in the development, implementation and maintenance of computerized support services for city plans, road records and district survey activities through a subordinate supervisor; promotes and coordinates the use and application of data processing programs and techniques; serves on committees to determine feasibility of computer applications related to design, drafting, record keeping, and street indexing activities.

Prepares ordinance drafts for City Plan action; monitors progress through legislative process; responds to questions and concerns of Mayor’s staff and City Council

Develops plans and reports for public hearings before the City Council on all street changes; attends City Council hearings to keep abreast of City Plan Ordinances and testifies in absence of Survey Bureau Manager through a subordinate supervisor; ensures that public inquiries related to City street records, maps and data are answered.

Directs a staff of technical employees engaged in planning and designing new city street systems, and determining and reviewing utility problems, related rights-of-way, legal and physical status of existing streets, and registry data; oversees the preparation of the necessary data for the Board of Review to act on street plans changes; serves as a member of the Board of Review and votes on the merits of establishing new street widths, realignments and grades, and planning and design matters; Reviews plans of proposed street and highway construction projects and comments on City Plan related issues; reviews roadway construction plans for public and private construction projects; identifies issues where construction affects the City Plan

Oversees the collection and preparation of technical data and provides technical assistance in drafting to change the official City street plans; drafts ordinances to authorize changes to the official street plans and coordinates with Law department employees to determine final ordinance language and appropriate term and conditions; develops plans and reports for public hearings before the City Council on all street changes; attends City Council hearings to keep abreast of City Plan Ordinances and testifies in absence of Assistant Chief Engineer and Surveyor through a subordinate supervisor; ensures that public inquiries related to City street records, maps and data are answered.

Serves as the assistant to the Survey Bureau Manager in matters affecting changes to the city plan or legal status of Streets; as required, is responsible for preparing official written reports to City Council Committees and official written reports to the Mayor outlining Streets Department position on pending legislation; serves as a voting member of the Board and attends meetings to discuss and approve or disapprove changes to official City plans; assists the Survey Bureau Manger during board meetings in interpreting and explaining proposed street changes and associated terms and conditions or Board members and members of the public.

Coordinates and serves as a technical resource for a large number of agencies and individuals in carrying out the planning, design and legal establishment of new city streets and adjustments to existing streets; advises and assists concerned individuals and agencies on procedures and legal requirements involving street design, land subdivision problems, and jurisdictional ordinances related to street plan changes

Responds to legal subpoenas and testifies as the City's expert witness on city plans, street design and street opening matters; initiates and consults on training and study programs designed to stay abreast of current trends and to facilitate the work.

Serves as technical lead on the digitization of city plan records and related database and archival systems.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the principles and practices of urban street design and layout

• surveying and engineering drafting as they relate to street design and land subdivision practice

• computer software programs related to drafting such as AutoCAD

• mathematics and related engineering computations as they pertain to street design for the determination of horizontal and vertical geometry alignment and grades

• the state and local laws relating to real estate conveyancing and land title work

• supervisory methods and techniques

• office practices and procedures

• skill in interpersonal communication

• computer software packages such as Autocad and ArcMap

ABILITY TO:

• read and interpret plans and blueprints

• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, representatives of business and governmental agencies, and the public

• explain ordinances tactfully and impartially

• present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing

• research, review and interpret land titles and property records

• work well under pressure and meet deadlines

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 8/13.

EDUCATION:

Completion of two years of study at an accredited college or university, with major course work in land surveying, surveying technology, or in one of the recognized fields of engineering.

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Seven years of experience in surveying and related city street design.

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

Two years designing urban street system layouts and preparing related technical research or assisting in the direction of survey district activities.

NOTE: Completion of a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work as indicated above satisfies two (2) years of the General Experience requirements.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources which includes the education, registration and the specific experience.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Registration as a Professional Land Surveyor or Engineer, issued by the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a City Plans Officer.

Class Established 9/64

Spec. Revision 12/88

Change in class code (3A64) per M. McAnally memo dated 1/31/02

Latest Spec. Revision:

CSC: 7/13

Ad Board: 8/13