Landscape Maintenance Worker

The Position

The City of Rohnert Park is seeking a Landscape Maintenance Worker with municipal or industrial landscape experience to join the Public Works Department. The Landscape Maintenance Workers will perform general and specialized landscaping duties, in addition to maintenance and minor repairs of outdoor areas and buildings. The successful candidates will also have the ability to operate a variety of light duty equipment and vehicles typically used in the performance of Public Works maintenance activities.

Ideal Candidate

• Performs general landscape maintenance duties including mowing, trimming, edging, hedging and weeding.
• Cleans and maintains outdoor areas, including weeding, watering, planting, picking up litter, and assisting in the care of trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns.
• Loads, unloads and transports dirt, plants, and other landscape materials.
• Assists in roadway lane closures by setting up traffic cones, directional signs and barricades to channel traffic.
• Removes small trees, stumps and roots, and assists in removing larger trees.
• Repairs and/or reports vandalism, damage or major maintenance requirements.
• Inspects and cleans irrigation systems.
• Replaces broken sprinkler heads and nozzles and makes basic repairs of irrigation systems.
• Performs minor building maintenance and custodial work.
• Applies or assists in the preparation and application of pesticides.
• Transports equipment, materials, or debris from one location to another.
• Cleans and maintains trucks, mowers, and related equipment and tools used in the course of work.
• Operates and/or drives a variety of light duty equipment and vehicles typically used in Public Works maintenance activities.

• Provide outstanding and friendly customer service.
• Create and maintain a respectful and collaborative working environment.
• Communicate honestly and behave in a manner that is ethical, legal and fiscally responsible.
• Demonstrate care for the organization, customers, and coworkers.
• Perform work of the highest quality possible.
• Practice and encourage initiative and innovation to improve the workplace.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Principles, techniques and equipment used in the maintenance of public parks, facilities, and street landscape areas.
• Safe practices in using hand tools and light equipment.
• Traffic laws, ordinances, rules and regulations involved in the operation of vehicles and equipment operations.
• Arithmetic sufficient to calculate volumes, areas, lengths, percentages and conversions.
• Safe work practices, including safety precautions for operating a variety of power equipment, working in traffic and under hazardous conditions.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination.
• Computers and software programs to conduct, compile, and/or generate documentation.

• Operate a variety of power tools and equipment used in landscape maintenance activities.
• Diagnose problems and determine appropriate action.
• Interpret and work from sketches, plans, and specifications.
• Take initiative to seek out work; complete tasks and follow through with work assignments in a timely fashion.
• Follow verbal and written directions.
• Perform manual labor under adverse working conditions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

• Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license by date of appointment.
• California Department of Pesticide Regulation Qualified Applicator Certificate is highly desirable.

Additional Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

CALPERS RETIREMENT: Per the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), effective 1/1/13, new CalPERS members will be in the Misc. 2% at Age 62 retirement formula with a 3-year final compensation. Employees pay the member's contribution.

The City does not participate in Social Security nor State of California Short-Term Disability Insurance (SDI). Medicare Taxes are withheld

MEDICAL INSURANCE: Employees may select from Kaiser, REMIF, or Sutter health plans. The City contributes a set credit amount based on coverage level.

DENTAL & VISION INSURANCE: City provides Ameritas Dental and VSP (vision) insurance at no premium cost to employee and eligible dependents.

HOLIDAYS: 12.5 paid holidays per year.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: Annual Leave Program, Short-term Disability Insurance, City-paid $50,000 life insurance policy for employees and $1,000 for dependents, LTD Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Education and Tuition Reimbursement Program, Certification & License Stipend Program, Dependent Care Assistance Program, Health Care Tax Free Dollar Account Program, Computer Purchase Program, Catastrophic Leave Program, and free use of the City's Sports Center and lap swim in the City's swimming pools. Employees may purchase supplemental life insurance, participate in a deferred compensation program and join a credit union. In addition, the City is a non-smoking workplace.

EMPLOYEE UNIT: This position is in the Service Employees International Union (S.E.I.U.) Local 1021 Maintenance Workers unit.