Parks & Trees Assistant Worker

The City of Temple City is hiring a Parks & Trees Assistant Worker to perform tree maintenance, landscaping, and facility upkeep under supervision. Responsibilities include climbing, trimming, planting trees, maintaining grounds, cleaning facilities, and operating various equipment. The position requires knowledge of safety practices and the ability to work with tools. The work schedule is Wednesday to Sunday, 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
DEFINITION

The City currently has a COVID-19 vaccination requirement in place, however it has been suspended until further notice.

Under direct supervision, utilizing standard tree maintenance equipment and methodology, climbs, trims, plants, and removes City trees; ensures adherence to safe work procedures and practices; and performs other related work as required.

The work schedule for this position will be Wednesday through Sunday, 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
• Assists gardening duties in the care of lawns, trees, flowers and shrubs; turf, lawn, and landscaped areas including mowing, edging, removing weeds, and planting sod;
• Maintenance work on water and sprinkler systems and installs new sprinkler systems as necessary;
• Cleans and maintains grounds, walks, City buildings, equipment and recreational facilities;
• Gathers and removes garbage and litter from grounds and facilities;
• Removes graffiti; washes and blows sidewalks, picnic shelter, tennis courts, parking lots, and bleachers;
• Cleans, restocks, opens and closes restrooms;
• Minor plumbing, electrical carpentry and other general construction repairs including repairing and replacing toilets, sinks, fountains, lighting fixtures, receptacles, timers, ballasts, bulbs, picnic shelters, benches, trash cans, and sidewalks;
• Operates a variety of light and heavy maintenance and grounds power equipment such as garden tractors, mowers, sprayers, edge trimmers, pruners, chain saws, blowers, renovators, or gas hedge trimmers;
• Drive a truck or other automotive equipment as necessary; assists in setting up, breaking down and general maintenance for city events;
• Sets up appropriate traffic safety controls around maintenance work sites; planting, preservation, trimming, and removal of City-owned trees;
• Operates various equipment commonly used in tree maintenance operations such as power chain saws, cavity instruments, hydraulic lifts, sprayers, and other related hand tools; plants, irrigates, cultivates, sprays, and fertilizers City trees and shrubs;
• Removes large limbs and whole trees; performs simple tree surgery and support cabling;
• Operates, maintains, repairs, and hangs street banners, flags, or decorations for special occasions;
• Replaces lights in parks as necessary;
• Respond to emergency call-outs during off-hours; ensures adherence to safe work procedures

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:
• Methods, techniques and equipment used in park, landscape, facilities and tree maintenance.
• Standard safety practices required in park, landscape, facilities and tree maintenance and repair.
• Supplies and equipment used in cleaning and maintain parks and facilities.

Ability to:
• Operate a variety of tools and equipment used by the park maintenance and urban forestry fields.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Respond to questions from the public and staff.
• Plan and organize work to meet schedules and timelines.
• Communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships in the course of work.
• Perform duties of an emergency worker in the event of a natural or other disaster.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: A combination of training and experience equivalent to the completion of high school or GED equivalent and experience performing duties comparable to those in park, facilities and tree maintenance.

Other Qualifications:

Possession of a valid Class C motor vehicle operator's license from the State of California.

Physical Demands:
• Ability to sit, stand, stoop or bend for up to two hours at a time.
• Ability to see and hear.
• Ability to lift up to 45 pounds.
• Ability to get from one location to another in the course of doing business.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be a comprehensive list of responsibilities, duties, and requirements. When appropriate, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Employee Benefits

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Vacation Leave: Accrue at a total of 80 hours per year of employment for a maximum of 320 hours.

Holidays: 13 holidays per year, which includes 2 floating paid holidays.

Sick Leave: Accrue at a rate of eight (8) hours per month for a maximum accrual of 96 hours.

Health Insurance: Medical Insurance Coverage provided by the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). 100% paid for employee and 50% toward dependent coverage. Lifetime benefit for fully vested CalPERS employees (5yrs) upon retirement from City.

Dental and Vision Insurance provided. 100% paid for employee only. Lifetime benefit for fully vested CalPERS employees (5 yrs) upon retirement from City.

Life Insurance: $50,000 per full-time employee.

Disability: Provided for non-occupational accidents or illness. Premiums are paid by the City for full-time employees.

Retirement: The City participates in the CalPERS retirement system. Effective January 1, 2013, new members to CalPERS or who have more than a six month break in service between employment in a CalPERS (or reciprocal) agency will be subject to the provisions of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and will receive the 2% @ 62 benefit formula.

Employees who are current members of CalPERS or an agency with CalPERS' reciprocity, or who have less than a six month break in service between employment in a CalPERS (or reciprocal) agency and employment with the City will be enrolled in the 2.5% @ 55 benefit formula.
All employees hired after January 1, 2012 are required to pay the full employee contribution to CalPERS.

Social Security: The City does not participate in Social Security. The City and employee both contribute 1.45% for Medicare.

Employee Optional Benefits Plan: The City provides $1,744.00 per fiscal year for each full-time employee to use for the sole purpose of payment of health insurance premiums.

Deferred Compensation: Each month, the City will match an employee’s contribution to the City-offered 457 plan, up to a maximum of 1.5% of the employee’s base salary.