11 - Director of Planning & Community Development AppointmentItem No. 11
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
SUBJECT: Director of Planning and Community Development
Appointment of Andrew Mack
City Charter Section 23
DATE: March 8, 2021
BACKGROUND:
The Director of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) position has been vacant since
October 2020. This was actually a combined position with the City Engineer which, by request of
the City Manager and with City Council approval, has been separated out and refocused. It
therefore became the task of the City Manager to seek out and select an appropriate candidate to
fill this position. A copy of the Job Description is found below.
The City Manager worked with Stephanie Harris, City Attorney, Michael Smith, Public Works
Director, and Sandy Collard, Human Resource and Civil Service Director, to serve as an Interview
Team. A total of five individuals were interviewed.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
I am pleased to present to you Andrew Mack as my selection for DPCD. Mr. Mack is the City
Planning Director for Park Rapids, MN. He has 36 years of community planning experience,
which includes zoning, planning, subdivision, code enforcement, building code, fire code and
more. He has displayed a great depth of knowledge and understanding that matches the job
description. He is an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) member. He has also spent
nearly ten years chairing statewide planning committees in Minnesota whose purpose was to track,
analyze, and educate both the membership and legislature on legislative matters involving city
planning. I am very impressed with this individual, both in his experience as well as his character.
He possesses the right combination of potential, experience, attitude, energy, professionalism and
civility that I want to see as the leader of the Planning and Community Development Departments.
He holds an impressive array of education and training credentials that have helped prepare him
to take on the challenges of leading the Planning and Community Development Departments as
its new Director.
Pursuant to the Paris City Charter, Section 23, "Neither the council nor any of its members shall
direct the City Manager or any of his subordinates in the appointment or removal of any city
employee; provided, however, that the al ,Igintment oI deyartment heads shall be sect to the
a .)roval ofthe council." Therefore, the job offer to Andrew Mack is contingent upon the approval
of the City Council.
A copy of his resume is available upon request.
If his appointment is approved by the City Council, Mr. Mack will transition from his current
location in Minnesota and take the office in early April 2021. Exact date TBD.
BUDGET:
Andrew Mack will be given a starting salary of Grade 55, Step 1, which is $73,513.00. This is a
salaried position.
OPTIONS:
A resolution has been presented to you tonight to appoint the City Manager's selection of Andrew
Mack as the Director of Planning and Community Development.
1. Approve the resolution as presented.
2. Request edits to the resolution as presented.
3. Request additional information regarding Andrew Mack or the process.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Resolution to appoint Andrew Mack as the Director of Planning and Community
Development.
JOB DESCRIPTION
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
General Statement of Duties
High level administrative position responsible for the direction and operation of all aspects of the
Planning and Community Development Department including the Zoning Ordinance, Building
Permitting and Inspection, Code Enforcement, Main Street and the Comprehensive Plan. Works
under the direction of the City Manager; however, position requires extensive skills in leadership,
management, communications, planning and organizing.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Directs, plans, supervises, oversees, implements and organizes the financial
management, operations, work flow and maintenance of the Planning and Community
Development Department, including Code Enforcement, Building Permitting and
Inspection, and Main Street.
2. Responsible for the administration of the City's Zoning Ordinance, working with the City
Engineer and Public Works Director to implement.
3. Assists prospective developers throughout the planning and community development
process.
4. Assists the City Engineer and Public Works Director with the implementation of the City's
Subdivision Ordinance.
5. Directs, oversees, administers and updates the City's Comprehensive Plan and Main
Street Program.
6. Serves as the Zoning Administrator and City Planner.
7. Conducts background research and data collection for comprehensive planning policies
and activities.
8. Directs the enforcement of municipal codes including but not limited to municipal
building codes and regulations, international building codes, nuisance codes, permitting,
inspecting, and zoning regulations.
9. Manages various grant opportunities, through state and federal programs, overseeing
application, award, project development, project completion, and reporting.
10. Works with the City Engineer, Public Works Director, and other City Staff in the planning,
designing, cost estimating, and construction management of related capital improvement
projects.
11. Collaborates with architects, engineers, contractors, professional services and other
construction specialist.
12. Holds consultants, engineers, architects, professional services, contractors and other
related firms accountable to ensure that all projects are in compliance with Local, State
and Federal Laws and Agreements.
13. Develops and implements goals, priorities, policies and procedures relating to Municipal
Planning and Community Development.
14. Oversees the proper procurement of all purchases pursuant to applicable City and State
laws.
15. Develops realistic and fiscally sound budget requests based on program need and
monitors budget expenditures to ensure they remain within budget allocation.
16. Directs ongoing research into new municipal planning and community development
concepts, technologies and trends and recommends implementation of programs and
equipment to help department achieve its objectives more efficiently.
17. Develops and maintains an efficient complaint tracking system for the department,
investigating issues, and responds to citizen concerns.
18. Supervises and monitors staff performance, ensuring that they are in compliance with
City policies, procedures, ordinances and resolutions.
19. Analyzes future personnel staffing needs and develops short and long-term plans to meet
those needs.
20. Selects, promotes, motivates, evaluates, trains and disciplines department personnel
consistent with applicable laws and the City's Personnel Policies and Procedures.
21. Works with and attends City Council and other Board and Committee Meetings as
needed.
22. Advises City Manager and department heads on Planning and Community Development
issues and solutions to address issues.
23. Coordinates additional and other assigned activities with other departments and outside
agencies and provides highly responsible and administrative support to the City Manager.
24. Serves as staff liaison or selects a designee for a number of boards and commissions
including but not limited to: Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Appeals, Board of
Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission, Main Street Advisory Board, TIRZ Board,
and Buildings and Standards Commission.
25. Maintains a regular and predictable work schedule.
26. Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Education and/or Experience — Graduation from a four-year college with major course
work in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a related field and at least six (6) years
of municipal planning experience or related planning, zoning and development
operations, including considerable management and administrative experience.
• Computer Skills — Microsoft Internet Explorer and other internet-based search engines;
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Word processing
software; Microsoft Powerpoint; and Laserfiche document storage and retrieval
software.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
• Master's degree in Urban Planning preferred
• AICP certificationr�rred
• Valid Class "C" Texas driver's license
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of platting, land use, community engagement, surveying, planning and zoning
principles;
• Knowledge of code compliance, enforcement, permitting and inspection principles and
practices;
• Ability to read and review plats, surveys, blueprints, design drawings and other
construction plans;
• Ability to set and implement long term planning goals;
• Ability to read and review spatial data using GIS software;
• Knowledge of subdivision ordinances;
• KnoMedge of contract 11Wocuremerit, administration and oversiiglrIt;
• Knowledge of construction maintenance methods, materials and equipment;
• Knowledge of grant writing and administration;
• Knowledge of economic development principles and practices;
• Ability to plan for municipal needs;
• Ability to lead, direct, delegate and distribute personnel;
• Knowledge of employment practices, including recruitment, selection, and evaluation of
staff;
• Ability to direct, coordinate and review the work of personnel;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials,
employees, citizens, vendors and contractors;
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and ability to effectively communicate
on a daily basis with administrative, elected and appointed officials and the public with
courtesy, professionalism, civility and tact;
• Knowledge and ability to prepare and interpret complicated reports and standards;
• Knowledge of intergovernmental relations and ability to understand and work with State
and Federal Regulations, Departments, and Personnel.
Physical Demands
• Physical ability to lift 20 pounds;
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time;
• Sensory demands typically require speaking, hearing, touching and seeing;
• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard
or other office equipment;
• Requires occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching and pushing or pulling drawers
to retrieve files;
• Must have visual acuity to endure eye strain of working on a computer for extended
periods of time;
• Mobility required to inspect work of staff;
• Physical mobility needed for moving around a worksite for the purpose of monitoring
quality of work.
Work Environment
• Employee works in an office setting but must occasionally go out into the field to respond
to complaints or inspect work of staff and contractors;
• Must interact with upset citizens;
• Office climate is moderate; however in the field work temperatures can range from
extreme hot to extreme cold.