Title
Resolution Amending The Pay Classification Plan In Planning And Development Services
Summary
Description of Topic: (who, what, where, when, why and how much)
This resolution amends the Pay Classification Plan within the Planning Division of the Planning and Development Services Department to better align the department with the City’s continued growth and increasing development complexity. The proposed reorganization transitions the division from a primarily administrative, process-driven structure to a professional planning model focused on technical analysis, long-range planning, and development review.
The changes include eliminating the Planning/Zoning Coordinator (Grade 120) classification and transitioning it to the existing Planner I classification (Grade 150). With the elimination of the P/Z Coordinator, we will establish a Planner II classification (Grade 170) and transition the current employee in the Planner I role to the new Planner II. Finally we will reclassify the Planning Manager to Senior Planner at the same Grade 220, in order to emphasize advanced planning analysis and policy support rather than managerial hierarchy. These adjustments create a clear professional planning progression (Planner I, Planner II, Senior Planner) while strengthening the Division’s ability to evaluate development projects, infrastructure impacts, and long-term growth patterns.
The implementation of these changes is budget neutral for FY26 due to an anticipated surplus of funds of an upcoming retirement in the department.
Budgetary Impact:
Non-Capital Item:
____ Budgeted under account #_______________ (discussion item)
____ Not budgeted, requesting transfer of $__________ from Account #______________ to Account #_____________.**Request to Transfer Departmental Budget Dollars form must be attached**
____ Not budgeted requiring increase to account #___________ in the amount of $____________.**Request to Increase Departmental Budget Dollars form must be attached**
Capital - Departmental **Capital Purchase Worksheet form must be attached**
____ Budgeted under account #______________ for $_________ and described in budget as ________________________. Additional amount needed, if any: Increase in budget of $_________ OR, transfer of $________ from Account #____________ to Account #_____________**Request to Increase OR Request toTransfer Departmental Budget Dollars form must be attached**
____ Not Budgeted - account #____________ requires budget increase of $_____________.**Request to Increase Departmental Budget Dollars form must be attached**
Capital Project - **If requesting to start a project, a Capital Project Worksheet form must be attached**
In current year Capital Projects Plan:
_____ Yes, described as __________________________, planned amount $___________, requesting $_________ as total project estimate, including contingencies, under account #_________________
_____ No, requesting $___________ as total project estimate, including contingencies, under account #____________________.
_____ Yes, requesting an increase of $___________ to an already approved project titled ________________________ that is being tracked under Account No. ___________________.
_____ No, requesting an increase of $__________ to an already approved project titled _______________________ that is being tracked under Account No. _________________.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Foley continues to experience sustained residential, commercial, and infrastructure growth resulting in increased development activity and planning complexity, and
WHEREAS, the City desires to align the Planning Division within the Planning and Development Services Department more closely with the broader mission of Infrastructure & Development by transitioning from a process-driven organizational model to one focused on professional planning analysis, land-use evaluation, infrastructure coordination, and long-term community development outcomes, and
WHEREAS, the proposed organizational realignment restructures existing positions without increasing overall staffing levels with the recommendation to eliminate the Planning/Zoning Coordinator and reclassify the position as Planner I, and
WHEREAS, the proposal further recommends reclassifying the current Planning Manager position as Senior Planner within the same grade, reporting directly to the Planning Director, in order to emphasize advanced planning analysis and policy support rather than managerial hierarchy, and
WHEREAS, the proposal also establishes a Planner II classification, creating a professional planning progression consisting of Planner I, Planner II, and Senior Planner to support employee retention, succession planning, and long-term departmental effectiveness, and
WHEREAS, the proposed salary adjustments associated with the Planner I and Planner II classifications are budget neutral for FY26 due to an anticipated surplus of funds.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Foley, Alabama, as follows:
SECTION 1: Amends the Pay Classification Plan in Planning and Development Services by eliminating the position of Planning/Zoning Coordinator (Job Code 2030104 / Grade 120) and authorizing the new position of Planner II (Job Code 2030115 / Grade 170).
SECTION 2: Amends the Pay Classification Plan by reclassifying the Planning Manager position to Senior Planner maintaining Job Code 2030110 / Grade 220.
SECTION 3: This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption as required by law.