Thank you, thank you, Mayor Driscoll, for including “A new senior urban planner position” in the city budget, as reported by syracuse.com this evening. You heard me whining for one on this website back in August of 2005, and again in January of this year when Dr. Emanuel Carter of SUNY-ESF wrote eloquently about the need for one. Hardly anything could affect the long-term health of this city as much as an informed, properly educated urban planner. We may celebrate the fact that the line has been held on taxes and water and sewer rates. That can change, however, in a year. But planning, done right, helps us to leave not just a city but the heart of an entire region in better shape for our children and grandchildren.
Today’s P-S classifieds had an ad for a senior urban planner in the Department of Community Development. Here’s the text:
City of Syracuse, NY Senior Urban Planner/ Urban Design The City of Syracuse Department of Community Development is seeking to fill the position of Senior Urban Planner with an experienced professional skilled in urban design and design review. The position will support the Division of Neighborhood Planning, the citizen-directed Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today, various community development corporations and other municipal departments in the development and refinement of community-scale to site-scale projects and assist in the packaging of those ideas for phasing and funding. In addition s/he will assist the Commissioner of Community Development and the Director of Economic Development in offering design guidance to property-owners and developers. Candidates will have a degree in landscape architecture or architecture and a degree or significant experience in urban planning. Strong design and graphics skills and an ability to work with municipal officials, sophisticated developers, citizen and community organizations, and institutions is a must. Candidates will have at least five years of experience and a track record in working with community organizations and in creating concept plans and development plans for communities, landscapes, and site design projects. Experience in environmental planning/design and historic preservation is a plus. Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree desirable. This position is a non-civil service appointed position. The City of Syracuse offers a competitive compensation and fringe benefits package. City residency is required. Please e-mail resumes with cover letter to cd@ci.syracuse.ny.us or by mail to Fernando Ortiz, Jr., Commissioner, Department of Community Development, Room 612, 201 E. Washington Street, Syracuse, NY 13202 no later than April 27, 2007 by 5pm. The City of Syracuse is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Affirmative Action Policy of the City of Syracuse is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people without regard to race, color, sex, religion, creed, age (18 and over), marital status, national origin, disability, or Vietnam Era veteran status. The City also compiles with 31 CFR part 51. If you have a disability for which you wish special accommodation to be made, contact the Department of Personnel at City Hall Commons at 448-8780.
Oh Gee….wonder why it was non-civil service?