This is professional planning work in the development and analysis of information for metropolitan area comprehensive planning.

Employees in this class are responsible for assisting and participating in the design and conduct of studies and analyses in support of planning proposals and in updating the Comprehensive Development Master Plan. Responsibilities may include conducting demographic research, participating in data management, preparing recommendations for zoning applications, conducting studies and analyses for environmental planning projects, providing planning information to other agencies and the public, and compiling and analyzing data using statistical software programs. Incumbents may be assigned to one or more phases of a planning program including comprehensive planning, geography, economics, environmental planning, demographics, transportation planning, and other areas. Employees exercise some independent judgment in the conduct of research and analysis within the scope of departmental policies and procedures. Supervision is received from a professional superior who reviews work for technical quality and assists with difficult or unusual problems.

ILLUSTRATIVE TASKS

Assists in the design and conduct of demographic studies and analyses; lays out and prepares printed tables for use in reports and studies; writes brief narratives, analyses and profiles.

Maintains electronic data sets, creates new files, runs and troubleshoots existing programs; creates small area subfiles of census and other data, updates vital statistics and matches to census geography; develops spreadsheets and graphs.

Responds to requests for data and information from various agencies and the public.

Prepares written recommendations for zoning applications, including logging and filing applications, field surveys, preliminary review and evaluation, and final written recommendations; provides assistance to the public.

Assists in the preparation of environmental elements of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan; conducts inventories and analyses addressing upland and wetland ecosystems; reviews environmental planning legislation and assists in evaluation of environmental planning projects.

Develops and prepares detailed and comprehensive transit planning reports; assists in mass transit research and data management; conducts analyses of transit system ridership utilizing computer models.

Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGES, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS

Considerable knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of urban planning.

Considerable knowledge of research techniques and statistical methods.

Knowledge of the County's Comprehensive Development Master Plan.

Knowledge of computer applications pertaining to planning functions including statistical, spreadsheet, database and graphic programs.

Knowledge of socioeconomic characteristics of Dade County.

Knowledge of Dade County zoning regulations and codes.

Knowledge of federal, state and local programs concerned with environmental elements of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan.

Ability to research, develop, organize and analyze information, and formulate effective recommendations.

Ability to express ideas and information, clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.

Ability to apply statistical concepts and methods to urban planning assignments.

Ability to utilize statistical software programs to compile relevant planning information in the form required.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with supervisors, fellow employees and officials of other agencies.

REV 10-93