Tree Maintenance Worker

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Class Title
Tree Maintenance Worker
Class Code
3749
Salary
$57,075.20 - $80,288.00 Annually
Classification Description Summary

Under general supervision, performs a variety of technical tasks in the planting, preservation, trimming and removal of City-owned trees; ensures adherence to safe work procedures and practices; and performs a variety of maintenance tasks in support of assigned area of responsibility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Employees within this class perform the full range of tree maintenance duties as assigned and are distinguished from the Senior Tree Maintenance Worker in that the latter exercises technical and functional supervision over lower level maintenance staff.

Essential Functions

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Perform a variety of technical tasks in the planting, preservation, trimming, and removal of City-owned trees.

Prune trees for overall healthy appearance and safety; remove dead, dying, or unsafe tree limbs and trees using appropriate tree removal equipment and apparatus.

Safely operate and maintain a variety of hand and power tools including, but not limited to, a chain saw, brush chipper, stump grinder, dump truck, front end loader, backhoe, aerial lift truck, power pole saws, and various tree climbing equipment.

Plant new trees according to established schedules on public right-of-ways, City parks, and City-owned property.

Identify tree diseases and pests; safely and accurately spray trees with appropriate fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides to eradicate various diseases.

Maintain the City's tree nursery including watering, weeding, pruning, and transplanting trees.

Respond to emergency calls for service regarding needed tree removal; respond to requests and inquiries from the public regarding tree preservation activities, codes, and regulations.

Ensure adherence to safe work procedures; set up appropriate traffic safety controls around tree pruning and maintenance work sites.

Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:
Operations, services, and activities of a tree trimming and maintenance program.
Methods and techniques of tree trimming, climbing, pruning, preservation, and maintenance.
Principles and practices of tree planting and cultivation.
Safe operating procedures of various tree climbing and maintenance tools and equipment.
Principles and practices of safe traffic control.
Various species and cultivation requirements of trees, shrubs, and vegetation.
Safety procedures used in the application of various pesticides, fungicides, and other chemicals.
Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.

Ability to:
Perform a variety of technical tasks in the planting, preservation, trimming, and removal of City-owned trees.
Operate a variety of tree climbing and maintenance tools and equipment in a safe and effective manner.
Ensure adherence to safe work practices.
Accurately identify and abate tree diseases and pests.
Set up appropriate traffic safety controls around tree pruning and maintenance work sites.
Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
Perform a variety of heavy manual labor in unfavorable weather conditions.
Work in a team based environment to achieve common goals.
Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously.
Meet the physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Experience:
One year of responsible tree maintenance experience, including use of aerial devices and tree climbing with rope and saddle.

License or Certificate:
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL A) with appropriate endorsements within six months of hire.
Possession of or ability to obtain certification as a "Certified Arborist" or "Tree Worker/Climber Specialist" issued by the International Society of Arboriculture is desirable.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in an outdoor field environment; travel from site to site; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, noxious odors, gases, potentially hazardous chemicals, and all types of weather and temperature conditions; exposure to hazardous traffic conditions; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain; work at heights.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a field environment; to walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time; to frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb with both legs and arms, reach, twist, grasp, and make repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties; to work at unusual heights using aerial lift devices or climbing using rope and saddle; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight; to operate assigned equipment and vehicles; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Other Requirements

Local 39 Non-Supervisory
G22
Last Update: 8/2019
JD 11/2018

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