Planning and Community Development Intern

Planning & Community Development Intern

Recruitment is now open for the opportunity to become a Planning & Community Development Intern at the City of Lake Stevens! The Planning and Community Development Department (PCD) maintains a robust long-range work program to ensure the city's ordinances remain compliant with state regulations. The city has several long-range projects for 2026. First is to complete the required to update its critical areas regulations by December 31, 2025; this deadline has been carried over into the summer of 2026. The intern position will assist the SeniorPlanner with mapping updates to the city's three Subarea Plans and the Industrial Area zoning code and design regulation updates which involves property owner and public participation. If time allows the intern would be educated in archiving, scanning maps and participate in preparing an empirical parking study documentation and data collection to support the rationale for the state mandated parking code updates to LSMC 14.72 and 14.38 Subareas to be consistent with RCW 36.70A.635 and 681.

This program is designed to provide you with valuable experiences, practical knowledge, and the chance to make a meaningful impact. We are committed to helping you develop your skills, grow as future leaders, and build a brighter future for Lake Stevens.

Why become an Intern here at the City of Lake Stevens

The City of Lake Stevens offers various opportunities to become involved in local government, providing invaluable hands-on experience in services within the public sector. As an intern, you will work closely with city leaders to gain insight into how decisions are made and implemented within a growing community. You'll have the chance to make a significant impact on projects that benefit residents, ranging from infrastructure development and environmental sustainability to asset management and public administration. Additionally, the internship provides excellent networking opportunities and the chance to develop the necessary skills for your future career.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducts research of past development projects, uses GIS to map critical areas and new maps for all three of the subarea plans updates.
• Field work, documentation and mapping for the empirical parking study.
• Records management and archiving.
• Performs special projects as assigned.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

SCHEDULE:

• Must be able to commit to a minimum of 15 hours a week during the quarter; university breaks, mid-terms, and finals are excluded. Additional hours may be available dependent upon the candidate's schedule. Up to 40 hours per week may be available during the summer.
• Internship length is flexible dependent on the candidate's availability. Estimated length is ten (10) weeks, with a maximum of twenty (20) weeks allowed.

Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines

Education:

• Must be a student currently enrolled in college, university, or graduate program, or be a recent college graduate within the past twelve (12) months with an emphasis in Urban Planning, Geography or GIS.

Must Posses Knowledge, Skills and Ability to:

• Use correct English, spelling, grammar, and punctuation, including principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Read, analyze, and interpret various items such as technical documents, legal documents, operating and procedure manuals, general business periodicals, professional journals, government regulation.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; apply common sense and creative thinking to solve practical problems.
• Speak effectively and present information before groups of employees, management, and/or officials.
• Work effectively on several projects concurrently.
• Prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Establish and maintain trust, confidence, and effective working relationships with employees, management, city officials, and the public.
• Effectively interact with tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Be an effective team member.
• Demonstrate positive and effective interaction and communication with individuals of diverse social and economic backgrounds.
• Operate personal computer, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database software applications.
• Maintain confidentiality of business records, personnel, and other information.
• Must be proficient in ARC GIS or related mapping program.

License or Certificate Requirements:

• Valid driver's license and a driving record which meets the city's requirements or must be able to obtain State of Washington driver's license within 30 days of hire.
• Successful completion of position-relevant background check.

Other Requirements:

• Attend a minimum of one (1) City Council meeting.
• Attend at least one community, City-sponsored or City-affiliated event, or special meeting.
• Give a presentation at the conclusion of the internship program to the Executive Leadership Team.
• Attend at least 2 Impact Sessions (Lunch & Learns) or shadow at least 2 other city employees.
• Attend the PCD weekly meetings and TSR bi-weekly land use development project coordination meetings with outside agencies.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk; and hear. The incumbent frequently is required to sit for extended periods of time and type on a keyboard for extended periods of time. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

Work is performed in a typical office environment subject to working outside of normal working hours to meet critical timelines or to provide support in department emergency response events. While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is subject to multiple interruptions by telephones and walk-ins by employees, elected officials and citizens; may be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Typical business office machinery and equipment include, but not limited to, personal computer including database program, spreadsheet and word processing software, printer, telephone, scanning equipment, and copy machine.

Evening or variable hours may be required.

Supplemental Information

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the "Work Experience" portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• A cover letter explaining your qualifications and why you believe you are a viable candidate for this position
• Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the "References" section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment
• A copy of your unofficial academic transcript

The City of Lake Stevens is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran's status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. There are no limitations to who's a best fit to serve this community. If we contact you for an interview and you need specific accommodations, please let us know. Please contact Human Resources at (425) 622-9400, ten (10) days in advance to allow time for us to make proper arrangements. You're also welcome to mail your request to City of Lake Stevens Human Resources, P.O. Box 257, Lake Stevens, WA 982