10/04/2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• PLANNING AND ZONING Overview: Planning staff oversees all land development within the city. Staff prepares and implements the city's Comprehensive Plan, which guides land use, zoning, sewer extension, transportation, and community facility improvements or anticipated changes to carry out the vision for the community's future. Staff advises the Planning & Zoning Board and City Council on all planning and land use issues. The planning division reviews plats and other land subdivisions, site plans for commercial and industrial buildings, rezoning requests, variances, conditional use permits, and other land use issues. Essential Functions include: CUSTOMER SERVICE A key component of this department is providing assistance to the public regarding land use, zoning, flood plain, and development inquiries. Staff is responsible for interpreting codes and regulations to provide accurate and updated information to residents, developers, realtors, assessors, and the general public. Counsel is provided in person at city hall as well as by phone, email and the city website. Prompt and accurate response to inquiries is essential to ensure the health and welfare of the residents, businesses and visitors of our community. Staff is responsible for responding to complaints and nuisance issues in an effective and timely manner. 41/ LONG RANGE PLANNING Staff provides long range planning assistance to establish goals and priorities for the City. The city's Comprehensive Plan is coordinated through this department. Staff responsibilities include maintaining and updating all components of the plan including Land Use, Housing, Natural Resources, Economic Development, Parks, Surface Water Management, Water and Sanitary Sewer, Transportation and Community Facilities. Staff insures that city initiatives, policies and infrastructure improvements are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. • SHORT RANGE PLANNING Staff undertakes projects that are initiated by advisory boards and/or city council to address implementation of the comprehensive plan, changes in state law, or city policy changes. These projects include, but are not limited to, ordinance amendments, special reports, and small area master plans. CODE ADMINISTRATION/ENFORCEMENT Staff oversees the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan through the administration of "Official Controls" These controls include chapters of the City Code including Zoning, Subdivision, Floodplain, Signage, and Shoreland Management. Staff is responsible for keeping the codes updated and in conformance with state law and the city's comprehensive plan. Planning staff serves as the primary personnel for code enforcement activities. These activities include complaint response, code interpretation, conflict resolution, and enforcement action. 4