PLANNING ASSOCIATE

PLANNING ASSOCIATE

Salary

$68,772.00 - $88,680.00 Annually

Location

City of West Covina, CA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

2026-016

Department

Planning

Opening Date

07/23/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Job Summary:

Under general direction participates in activities of current and long-range planning, collects and tabulates data relating to urban land use, population and related social and economic characteristics of the City. Analyzes data for general planning purposes or in connection with zoning problems. Performs a variety and range of professional planning work. May be involved in administrative projects outside normal area of specialization; does related work as required.

Examples of Duties

Essential Job Functions:

• Prepares reports relating to land use and environmental matters; conducts necessary research and investigations; compiles, analyzes and interprets data relating to social and economic trends within the City; reviews a variety of plans for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Meets with developers, business people, homeowners and other representatives concerned with specific projects to discuss land use requirements, applicable laws and regulations and to address problems and complaints.
• Correlates research and reports in cooperation with other departments and agencies pertaining to various planning problems affecting the City.
• Participates and attends in a staff capacity at a variety of meetings including, but not limited to, meetings of the Planning Commission with developers and other outside agencies; makes presentations as necessary regarding various plans and projects.
• Prepares environmental documents and required public notices.
• Processes zoning applications; prepares reports regarding applications for zoning hearings.
• Answers inquiries from public regarding policies of the City and interprets zoning regulations.
• Monitors consultant contracts for the preparation of special studies and environmental documents.
• May assist in developing graphic presentations and perform related work.
• Assists in the interpretation and enforcement of the Citys sign ordinance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Required Knowledge:

Knowledge of the principles, techniques and objectives of city planning, statistics, graphic presentations and research methods. Knowledge of graphic illustration, basic economics, sociology, public administration, and engineering design as related to city planning. Knowledge of California State Planning and Zoning Laws and California Environmental Equality Act is desirable.

Education:

A Bachelors Degree in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, public administration from an accredited college or university or a related field.

Experience:

Two (2) years of responsible professional experience in the field of urban planning preferably with a state, county or municipal agency.

Physical Requirements:

This position also requires extensive and repetitive physical activity involving the arms, wrists, and hands, including writing and using a keyboard. It also requires physical abilities associated with the ability to read, write and communicate in a work environment requiring no extraordinary physical strength or other special physical qualifications.

Other / Special Requirements:

Licenses:

Possession of a valid California Class C Drivers License with a satisfactory driving record is required.

Supplemental Information

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The City of West Covina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants.

ADA Accommodation: The City provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. If you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a position on this site due to a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation by calling (626) 939-8450.

The following benefits are offered to permanent fulltime employees only. For part-time employment benefits, the City does not offer any medical, vision or dental benefits for part-time and Limited Service employees. Such employees may elect - voluntary - to participate in such plans, pending payment of full premium as determined by the City. Additionally, part-time and Limited Service employees do not hold recognized bargaining rights and not eligible for bargained benefits, including administrative leave, vacation pay, sick hours accumulation (with exception of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of paid employment), life insurance, bereavement and tuition reimbursement.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - GENERAL EMPLOYEES

Effective 07/01/17, in Accordance with Successor Memorandum Of Understanding

HOLIDAYS - All General City employees receive sixty (60) holiday hours per year, plus 36 floating personal leave hours. Effective 01/01/2019, Floating Holiday Leave shall be increased from 36 hours to 40 hours per calendar year. Additionally, majority of all City Departments, except Police and Fire, will be closed each year from December 24th to January 1st.

VACATION - All full-time employees accrue 80 vacation hours per year, up to 240 hours, and at five years, they receive 40 additional hours.

SICK LEAVE - Eight hours per month (96 hours per year) accrued by full-time employees for sick leave. There is unlimited accumulation, and the City has an annual payoff plan for unused sick leave, plus a payoff plan upon termination.

HEALTH INSURANCE - Effective July 1, 2018, The Citys contribution to medical premiums for all new unit employees hired on or after July 1, 2018, shall be capped in accordance with the following schedule:

Single: $550/month 2-Party: $950/month Family: $1,250/month

Employees covered by a health insurance plan outside of the Citys plan will receive $300/month.

Employees hired on or prior to June 30, 2018, receive a City contribution up to the corresponding Los Angeles Region Kaiser rate per month (Employee only, Employee plus one, or Employee plus 2 or more (family) towards health coverage through the Public Employees Retirement Systems (PERS).

DENTAL PROGRAM - A dental program is offered to all employees at group rates. The City contributes up to $62.23 per month towards premiums.

VISION PLAN - City-paid vision plan for employees only. An employee may enroll eligible dependents at his/her cost.

LIFE INSURANCE- The City will provide active employees group term life insurance in an amount equal to the employees annual salary or $50,000, whichever is greater.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY PLAN- The City covers the entire cost for this premium. There is a 6-month waiting period before an employee is eligible, and the plan covers up to a maximum of 60% of the employees gross salary up to the age of 65.

STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE - All General unit employees are covered by this insurance. The employee pays the premium.

RETIREMENT - The employee pays the full employee contribution to the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The PERS retirement plan is 2% at 62 formula for "New" PERS members and 2% at 60 for "Classic" PERS members. Options include single highest year, military buyback service credit and service credit for unused sick leave. The City does not participate in Social Security.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT- The City provides a tuition reimbursement program for all regular full-time employees for continuing job-related education.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION - The City shall match up to fifty dollars ($50.00) per month for all unit employees who participate in a deferred compensation program. The benefit is conditioned on a matching principle to each employees deferred compensation account on an employee-employer dollar-for-dollar matching basis.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - Up to 40 hours per occurrence may be granted.

BILINGUAL ALLOWANCE - Eligible employees receive $100 per month upon successful completion of bilingual examination.

RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS PLAN - A $100 City and $25 employee contribution made per month toward a retiree health savings plan.

SECTION 125 - The City has established a program consistent with Section 125 of the IRS Code, which enables employees to voluntarily use pre-tax earnings for medical, dental, and dependent care expenses.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - The City provides EAP services to full-time employees and their eligible dependents.

THE CITY - West Covina is a city of approximately 110,500 residents, located 20 miles east of Los Angeles, with easy accessibility via freeway to beach and mountain resorts and many other major retail, recreational, educational, and cultural facilities. Acknowledged as the "Headquarters City of the East San Gabriel Valley," West Covina prides itself on the quality of living it offers.

The City utilizes the council-manager form of government, and has 339 authorized full-time positions, with an operating budget of about $64 million.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

01

The supplemental assessment you are about to complete is part of the examination process and will be thoroughly reviewed. All responses provided will be subject to verification.

• I understand that this supplemental assessment is part of the examination process and will be used to determine which candidates are selected to move forward in the recruitment process.

02

Do you have a Bachelors Degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Public Administration, or a related field? If yes, is this information listed under education in your application? (NOTE: You will be required to verify your education level if you continue in the selection process.)

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have at least two (2) years of responsible professional experience in the field of urban planning?

• Yes
• No

04

Please describe how you meet the requirement of having at least two (2) years of recent planning experience in one or more of the following areas: zoning, historic preservation, design review, redevelopment, and/or planning research. Please respond in 200 words or fewer.

05

Please describe your experience preparing staff reports and delivering presentations to advisory bodies such as the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, Design Review Board, Advisory Committees, Historic Preservation Commission, and/or City Council. In your response, include the types of projects you presented, your role during public hearings, and how you addressed questions or concerns raised by decision-makers and members of the public.

06

Please describe your experience working with developers, applicants, community groups, residents, and the general public. In your response, include examples of staffing a public counter, conducting public outreach or workshops, explaining planning regulations, and resolving questions or concerns.

07

Please describe a complex development project that you processed from application through entitlement. In your response, include your specific role, the entitlement(s) required, the level of environmental review (such as a CEQA exemption, Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, or Environmental Impact Report), the major issues encountered, and the final outcome.

Required Question

Employer City of West Covina

Address 1444 W. Garvey Avenue South

West Covina, California, 91790

Website http://westcovina.org