The City of Atascaderoinvites your interest for the

position of

Community Development Director

Photo by Lynne R. Krizik

The City and Community of Atascadero

Nestled between the Salinas River to the east, and the oak covered hillsides of the Santa Lucia Mountains to the west, Atascadero is a vital community within a rural landscape. Located in the heart of California’s scenic Central Coast, the City of Atascadero combines the serenity of an ideal lifestyle surrounded by a rugged natural beauty with an abundant mix of cultural, social and recreational opportunities. Geographically situated on Highway 101, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the City sits 17 miles inland from the beautiful Pacific Coast, and 20 miles north of the vibrant college town of San Luis Obispo.

Atascadero has an attractive downtown and linear commercial corridors along El Camino Real and the road to Morro Bay. The City’s crown jewel, its historic City Hall, recently completed a renovation. The City offers residents a small-town lifestyle combined with modern amenities.

Atascadero has the unique distinction of being California’s first planned community in 1913. With a current population of 29,000 residents, the City takes great pride in a public school district that possesses high standards for education and has received national recognition for their programs and staff. Recreationally, the City is home to beautiful parks, a zoo, a public golf course and abundant open space which include many hiking and biking trails. In the region are an additional 95 acres of parks and three major recreational lakes. In the heart of an award winning wine producing region, Atascadero is close to more than 170 bonded wineries and 25,000 acres of vineyards. With a reasonable housing market, good schools, a business friendly environment and many recreational opportunities, Atascadero takes pride in its hometown spirit and is a great place to live, work and play.

City Government and the Department

The City of Atascadero is a General Law City incorporated in 1979 with a Council – Manager form of government. The Council is comprised of five members, including an elected Mayor. The Council Members are elected at-large to four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor serves a two-year term. The City Manager and City Attorney are appointed by the Council, with the former leading the City’s operational management team which consists of

Photo by Lynne R. Krizik

Photo by Lynne R. Krizik

five department directors who oversee Police, Fire, Public Works, Community Development and Administrative Services. The City has a staff of approximately 115 full-time employees.

The Community Development Department strives to promote development that is consistent with the “smart growth” principals adopted in the General Plan, and support the economic vitality of the City by coordinating the City’s economic development activities. The Community Development Department, with a staff of eight employees, serves three functional areas: Planning Services, Building Services and Permit Center/Customer Service. Planning Services develops and implements long range plans and standards to ensure logical growth while preserving Atascadero’s “quality of life” environment. Building Services provides plan check and construction inspection services and has assumed public works inspections and Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) implementation. The Department also staffs the one-stop Permit Center and provides customer service for all development, business license and environmental related issues.

The Position and Ideal Candidate

The Community Development Director reports to the City Manager and provides leadership to the departmental staff and technical advice to the Planning Commission and City Council. A significant priority for the new Director will be an intensified focus on economic development, one of the City’s primary objectives as evidenced by its recently established Office of Economic Development, which the Director oversees. Completion of a new Wal-Mart and shopping center on the City’s north side and the Eagle Ranch Specific Plan are among the large projects the Director will shepherd. Eagle Ranch proposes the annexation of six square miles on the southern boundary and the identification of a variety of land uses. Adoption of the updated Housing Element is also upcoming. With an active, dynamic department, a progressive, operationally effective leader will be vital.

The new Community Development Director will be an energetic, positive and customer focused leader with excellent interpersonal skills and a proven track record of completing work programs in a timely and successful manner. An experience base that includes extensive and proactive community interaction combined with a strong foundation of economic, financial and political acumen is essential in this role.

Collaboration, communication and organizational skills will be key attributes for the new Director, who will be comfortable working in a team environment, who is hands-on and well versed in planning and land use practices. The need is to provide pragmatic and positive solutions to an active constituency and a business friendly City Council. A significant aspect to success is the ability to relate and respond to an involved community and to understand and connect with the local culture.

The ideal candidate will have managed an active development environment within a community focused on quality projects, active participation from the community and where creative/innovative solutions are utilized. Strong administration and leadership skills are expected, as is a participative and communicative management style. Land use issues and CEQA knowledge are essential requirements for this position. A background that includes at least five years experience in managing a community development division or department and a BA/BS in a related field are required. An MA/MS and AICP certification are desired.

Photo by Rick Evans

Compensation and Benefits

The City of Atascadero offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. The salary range for this position is $105,108 - $127,760 annually, DOQ. The excellent benefits package includes the following:

♦ Retirement: — Classic members: CalPERS 2% @ 55 with city contributing 2.3% of the employees’ share of 7%. Highest

three years. — New hires: CalPERS 2% at 62 with employee paying 50% of the total normal cost rate as determined by

CalPERS. Highest three years.

♦ The City does not participate in Social Security except for the 1.45% deduction for Medicare.

♦ Medical Insurance: City provides a PPO/HSA and HMO health plan. City contributes a monthly contribution for family coverage.

♦ Post Retirement Health Benefit: $200 per month until age 65 after vesting with 8 years of City service.

♦ Vacation Accrual: 10 to 20 days annually based on years of service.

♦ Holidays: 12 paid per year.

♦ Sick Leave Accrual: 12 days per year.

♦ Administrative Leave: 80 hours per year.

♦ Deferred Compensation: The City will match up to $1,000 per fiscal year.

♦ Life Insurance: $50,000 City paid.

♦ LTD and Employee Assistance Program (EAP): City paid.

♦ Car Allowance: Granted for this position.

The Process

If you are interested in pursuing this unique and exceptional career opportunity, please submit (email preferred) your cover letter, resume, salary history and contact information including email addresses for five work-related references (references will not be contacted until mutual interest is established) to:

Bill Avery or Ann SlateAvery Associates3½ N. Santa Cruz Ave., Suite ALos Gatos, CA 95030E-mail: jobs@averyassoc.net

The final filing date for this position is May 29, 2015.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact Bill Avery at 408.399.4424 or Ann Slate at 805.459.5132.

Photo by Debbie Cardinale