2008/09/08 City Council Resolution 2008-145RESOLUTION NO. 2008-145
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
APPROVING JOB DESCRIPTION AND SALARY RANGE FOR
ARBORIST AND
AUTHORIZING RECRUITMENT FOR THE POSITION
WHEREAS, staff has proposed a revised organizational structure for Public Works;
WHEREAS, within this revised organizational structure there is a need for a revised
Arborist job description;
WHEREAS, staff has determined that the Arborist should have first -line supervisorial
responsibilities;
WHEREAS, the Arborist shall have responsibilities equivalent to other first -line
supervisors in the Department; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager recommends the revised position of Arborist be
designated as a miscellaneous employee represented by the Service Employees International
Union (SEIU), report to the Director of Utilities /General Services or his designee, and be placed
at the following salary range and rate:
Position Range Monthly Salary
Arborist 79W $5,013 — $6,093
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Rohnert
Park approves the job description and salary range for Arborist, and that the City Manager
(Personnel Officer) or designee is authorized to recruit for the position.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Rohnert
Park this 8h day of September, 2008.
ATTEST:
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
LIFORNtp
BREEZE: AYE SMITH: AYE STAFFORD: AYE VIDAK- MARTINEZ: ABSENT MACKENZIE: AYE
AYES: (4) NOES: (0) ABSENT: (1) ABSTAIN: (0)
City of Rohnert Park
ARBORIST
DEFINITION
Supervises and performs a variety of activities and functions related to the planting,
maintenance, inventorying, and care of all trees city -wide; performs other duties as
assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The position of Arborist is a.skilled position. This job class is an advisory and first -line
supervisory position. The incumbent performs work required for the care, preservation,
maintenance, removal, and development of the street and park trees, landscape beds,
and City -owned property and general grounds.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED /EXERCISED
Direct supervision is provided by a the Director of Utilities /General Services or his/her
designee. The. incumbent may exercise functional and technical supervision to
Maintenance Worker 11's, Maintenance Worker l's, Seasonal Maintenance Assistants,
and /or contract employees. On occasion, supervision of larger work crews may be
required of the incumbent for special project work.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
(These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)
• Supervises all phases of arboricultural work and maintenance.
• Supervises and plans work schedules; monitors work performance of assigned
personnel; completes performance appraisals.
• Responds to citizens' questions, concerns, complaints, and claims with the intent
to provide reasonable and responsible corrective action.
• Attends meetings, seminars, demonstrations, conventions, and trainings as
needed or required particularly as they relate to the maintenance of certification
and licensing as an Arborist and Pest Control Advisor.
• Monitors and assists with the division's budget by " researching and making
recommendations; determines and approves budget expenditures; collects data;
organizes material; may authorize payment of division invoices and
expenditures; prepares purchase orders; orders division's supplies and
materials; writes work orders and equipment repair requests; completes relevant
department forms and reports; uses a computer to assist with the logging and/or
tracking of daily work assignments; maintains other work - related records as
needed.
• Flags traffic; installs and removes traffic cones, traffic control signs, and
barricades.
City of Rohnert Park
ARBORIST
Page 2 of 5 Pages
• -Operates and /or drives a variety of light and heavy equipment, including but not
limited to, tractors, dump trucks, a bucket truck, backhoes, forklifts, rollers, sewer
vacuum truck, boom truck, mowers, brush chipper, stump grinder, power hand
tools, jack hammers, line trimmers, compactors, utility locating equipment, chain
saws, and other tree - related equipment.
• Cleans, maintains,' and either services or oversees the servicing of equipment
and makes minor equipment repairs as necessary.
• Performs tree inventories and evaluations using computers and GIS equipment;
examines trees, shrubs and other types of plant material to assess their
condition , and determines appropriate treatment; makes determinations
regarding trees that may pose a threat to public health, safety, and/or general
welfare and follows through with appropriate remedial measures; removes dead
and dying trees.
• Prunes tree growth away from electrical cables and public access routes.
• Installs tree cabling, tree braces; and attaches guy wires to trees.
• Plants, prunes, and cares for new trees, including staking, restaking, and
watering of trees during the early -care maintenance period.
•. Performs.plant disease diagnoses; applies pesticides and fertilizers; advises and
trains staff in pest control. functions and in the safe use of spraying and other
tree care treatment equipment.
• Mows, weeds, mulches; and fertilizes soil, for proper tree care, growth, and weed
control and abatement.
• Prepare reports and memoranda to staff and regulatory agencies on operational
events and compliance with permits, licenses,. and other quality parameters.
• Supervises the maintenance of City trees, bushes and shrubs; removal of tree
trimmings and leaves; , cutting and removal of weeds; proper application of
herbicides.
• Reviews ,and comments on Tree Removal Permit Applications; assesses and
approves planting of replacement trees.
• Cleans storm drains during and after heavy winds and /or rains.
• Supervises landscape and street median strip. design, installation and
maintenance; may design and install various landscapes and install and
maintain irrigation systems.
• Reviews' drawings, and plans and prepares contract specifications; prepares
bids and supervises the work of contract tree care and landscape maintenance
activities.
• Provides technical consulting service with City staff and contractors with
sidewalk trip hazard mitigation asscociated with trees.
• May provide twenty-four hour standby service as required.
City of Rohnert Park
ARBORIST
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•
Maybe assigned.as a disaster service worker during a disaster or emergency.
QUALIFICATIONS .
Experience/Education:
Sufficient experience and education in tree -care maintenance to perform journey -level
tree -care service work. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to:
Possess the equivalent of a high school diploma or GED; and
• Possess the equivalent of two (2) years of concentrated education/training in
arboriculture; and
• Three (3) years of professional tree -care experience
Licensing and Certification Requirements
Required licenses and certifications must be kept current during employment with the
City.
• Valid State of California Class C . Driver's License required at time of
appointment to the position.
• Certified - Arbonst Certification as issued by the International Society of
Arboriculture must be obtained during the probationary period.
• Pest .Control Advisor and Qualified Applicator's License issued by the State of
California must be obtained during the. probationary period.
• Certified Arborist/Municipal Specialist Certification issued by the International
Society of Arboriculture:is desirable.
Knowledge of:
Methods, equipment, and. materials used for the proper care, preservation,
maintenance, removal, and development of the street and park trees, landscape
beds, and City- owned'property and general grounds
• Tree health problems, diseases, pests and appropriate corresponding treatment.
• Safe and effective methods of felling trees, removing branches, and lowering
limbs
• Safety procedures for climbing trees and working around overhead wires
• Types and levels of repair performed in landscape and irrigation system
installation and maintenance
• Occupational hazards, risk management, and standard safety precautions .
• Cal /OSHA standards
• Computers and computer programs .
• Principles of budgeting and fiscal control
• Principles of personnel supervision, training, and. evaluation
• Basic principles of organization and administration
Skill to:
• Operate a. variety of tools, equipment and vehicles typically used in
arboricultural work
• Use lowering techniques and devices related to tree work
City of Rohnert Park
ARBORIST
Page 4 of 5 Pages
Abili to:
• Plan, organize, and implement maintenance and repair programs for tree care,
inventorying, and removal
• Identify native, and introduced tree, shrub, and plant species and have a
working- knowledge of each species' growth characteristics
• Distinguish between different cleaning materials, fungicides; herbicides, and
insecticides with the ability to read and understand label information and
instructions
• Work safely and be able to direct others in following safe work practices
• Maintain a high standard of customer service
• Exercise good Judgment and decision- making within the scope of one's authority
• Be proactive in addressing problems and take initiative to seek out work;
complete tasks and follow through with work assignments in a timely fashion
• Prioritize, organize,. coordinate, and follow up on projects within established
timelines
• Coordinate work schedules of subordinate staff including full -time and part -time
employees
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, in English
• Establish and maintain cooperative working. relationships
• . Plan, organize, assign, prioritize, direct, review, and oversee the work of others;
provide work performance coaching and encourage training and development
opportunities
• . Prepare and maintain records and reports with the use of computer programs
• Learn and utilize new technology
• Serve as a role model, provide leadership, delegate tasks, and effectively;
represent the Division and the City
Working_ Conditions:
Position requires sitting, standing, walking on level and slippery surfaces, reaching,
twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping and
making repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties. The use of a
sense of smell and hearing is needed in detecting toxic gas and equipment problems.
The ability to adequately hear the sound of vehicles when. backing up as well as to
determine if power tools and equipment are on or off is required for safety. The position
also requires both near and far vision when inspecting and overseeing crew. The need
to lift, carry, and push tools, equipment, tree branches, and supplies up to 60 pounds is
also required, Additionally, the incumbent in this outdoor position works in all weather
conditions including rain, heat, and cold. The incumbent may use cleaning and
lubricating chemicals and ingredients which would expose the employee to fumes, dust,
and air contaminants which may cause eye and skin irritation. The nature of the work
also requires the incumbent to climb up ladders and into high lift buckets; use power
and noise producing tools and equipment; drive motorized vehicles; and work in heavy
vehicle traffic conditions exposing the incumbent to mechanical, electrical, and traffic
hazards. In addition, incumbent must utilitize climbing equipment such as climbing
belts, ropes, spikes, and operate a chain saw at heights.
City of Rohnert Park
ARBORIST
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FLSA. Status: Salaried, Non - exempt
Employee Unit: Service Employees' International Union (SE IU)
Approved By: City Council
Date Approved: 'September 8, 2008