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East Bethel council approves hiring of entry-level city planner; training, on-call consultant plan outlined
Summary
The City Council approved hiring a new city planner at $29 per hour and directed staff to use Landform for training and on-call support as needed; council discussed expected training time and budget impacts.
East Bethel City Council approved the hiring of a new city planner during the consent agenda on Feb. 10, 2025, voting by voice to adopt the item.
City staff described the new hire as a recent graduate who grew up locally and will require on-the-job training. Council members asked about the expected length of that transition period, budget impacts and whether the consultant firm Landform would remain engaged.
Kendra, Community Development Director, told the council the planner is “coming out directly from school so has no city experience” and estimated a transition period of about “3 to 6 months.” She and the City Administrator said Landform would be used to train the new planner and then kept on call for assistance as needed, rather than retained continuously. The City Administrator said staffing time for training is partly overhead and some work billed against applicant escrows, similar to engineering time.
Council Member Rocco questioned pay, noting the hire’s $29 hourly rate and saying, “That seems extravagant to me” for a candidate without experience. The City Administrator and Kendra replied that market conditions for planners are tight and that less-experienced hires typically earn less than experienced candidates would.
Council members also asked about progress on hiring a Community Development Director. Kendra said two applications had been received and that budgeted funds for the director position would be used for part of the planner training while the director position remains open.
A motion to approve the consent-agenda item to hire the planner was made and seconded; the council voted by voice and the motion passed.
Staff clarified that the city attorney will be available to the new planner for legal questions, and that city staff expects training-related consultant time to taper as the planner gains experience.
Council members asked staff to monitor workload and budget impacts as the planner moves from training toward full responsibility.
