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Home My WebLink AboutUrban Forester Contract Postion • t v "..TY OF PALM DESER'I I A 3 MEMORANDUM t, '4 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ly FROM: LISA V. CONSTANDE, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION MANAG,' f-t DATE: NOVEMBER 9, 1995 �� .i ';i SUBJECT: URBAN FORESTER — CONTRACT POSITION A 0 G RECOMMENDATION: G ��--,I --I• By minute motion, approve for city staff to prepare a Request For Proposal (RFP) to solicit a oi4tr.ICtj to he ;i' position of Urban Forester. H ± + 1 U 4 -\ O BACKGROUND: C c, 0 , ��. b H 4_ •• •• H .-I During the Fiscal Year 1995-96 budget process, City Council directed staff to define and tali iw ;&i c t n 1 that would: f; ; w O 111 i '- + t, ax ax1c � � o ► Educate businesses and organizations on the proper selection and maintenance of landscape investments; ► Provide information and technical assistance to special interest groups on proper tree and plant material selection and care; ► Educate city crews through workshops and field training on the proper care and maintenance of the City's landscaped environment; ► Provide technical assistance and be a resource of information to residents and homeowner associations on the selection and care of plant material; ► Coordinate and elevate the level of maintenance and care conducted by contractors at City owned redevelopment sites; ► Coordinate and assess the Cityscape Program (parks, medians, assessment districts, and city-owned buildings/properties with landscaping) urban forest,and open space areas for future preservation and care. The attached job description will be issued in an RFP format that will include proper insurance requirements, physical requirements, etc. The formulating of this job description was a joint effort by: Eric Johnson; John Wohlmuth; Dick Folkers; Don Enos; Terre LaRocca; Gloria Darling; Tom Theobald; and Lisa Constande. The aforementioned staff members have all approved and will support, to the best of their abilities, the position as outlined. Staff feels that this position will be an asset to the contribution of enhancing and protecting the City's investment in its Cityscape Program, urban forest and open space areas. The cost to fill this position will be determined during the review of the RFPs. Staff will return to City Council for request of appropriation and with a recommendation to award r ct. /9 .? /` L SA V. CONSTANDE, MANAGER MON A. DIAZ ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ____, ACTING CITY MANAGItR • CITY OF PALM DESERT CONTRACT JOB DESCRIPTION TITLE: Urban Forester - Contract Position DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services Department FOCUS OF CONTRACT: The City of Palm Desert is seeking a qualified firm to perform the Urban Forester duties and responsibilities for the City. A successful firm will provide an Urban Forester that is at the principal level or equivalent. The City will manage the annual contract on an hourly basis, with an estimated 2,000 hours per year. The following contract job description identifies the work and expertise that the Urban Forester will perform and bring to the City of Palm Desert. JOB SUMMARY. The URBAN FORESTER position is responsible for the management and care of the City's urban ecosystem, including the City's open space,parks,medians, and owned properties/buildings. Duties include: planning; operations; administration; and public education. Performs broad range of functions including project management, pursuit of funding, community presentations/education, developing program standards for public and private development and maintenance. Ability to work with people at all levels: agency representatives, contracts, sales people, special interest groups,schools, businesses/organizations, students, City Council and staff. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS. Contract is administered by the City's Environmental Conservation Manager. Position works independently, under applicable City, State, and Federal policies, procedures and regulations. Coordinates, supervises,and inspects the work of contractors and volunteers. Works integrally with the Public Works, Maintenance Division to develop performance standards and to educate City maintenance crews. JOB DUTIES 1. Assists with requests for proposals and selection of landscape maintenance contracts. Administers and inspects the work of contractors. Establishes procedures and develops tracking system to ensure the success of contracts and associated budgets. 2. Initiates landscape redesigns and development projects. Assists with the design, bidding, construction and maintenance phases. Works with consultants during each phase to insure implementation of project goals and associated budgets. 3. Assists management in overseeing landscape maintenance that is performed by Public Works,Maintenance Division. Interacts with City employees though educational workshops and field training. 4. Acts as an educational resource for the City and outside organizations. Ability to organize and present a series of workshops to educate various audiences at all levels, including: special interest groups, landscaping/irrigation professionals, City maintenance crews, residents, businesses/organizations, agency representatives and students. Must be able to develop graphic and written materials to be used in presentations. Public speaking and writing skills required. 5. Represents the Environmental Conservation Department as requested, regarding landscaping and development issues at inter-departmental City meetings, citizen committee meetings and City Council meetings. Requires ability to prepare agendas, records, and other administrative documents. 6. Ability to carry out special surveys and audits. Ability to make recommendations on administrative or operational policies, procedures, systems and budgets. 7. Develop a computerized inventory of the City's urban ecosystem. Identifying landscaped districts according to contracts,budgets,irrigation systems,citizen group involvement,administration requirements, etc. Selection of software and program structure will be recommended by this position. 8. Requires preparation of a master time schedule and associated budget in relation to time spent on all work assignments and job duties. Time management is a critical requirement in the success of this position. 9. Lead responsibility for the research, preparation, presentation and monitoring of the department's grant program including complex and technical Federal and State grant applications including the Interagency Committee for Outdoor recreation Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program. KNOWLEDGE ► Tree and plant material biology ► Tree and plant material identification (knowledge of plant materials) ► Taxonomical and common names of trees and plant material ► Tree and plant material soil relations ► Nutrition and fertilization requirements for trees and shrubs (all types of plant material) ► Tree and shrub selection (all types of plant material) ► Installation and establishment of new trees and shrubs (all types of plant material) ► Pruning techniques for new trees and plant material ► Pruning and shaping of mature trees and plant material ► Cabling, bracing, typing and staking of trees and shrubs ► Problem diagnosis regarding diseases and infestations of plant material ► Weed control (herbicides and pesticides) ► Seasonal changes: Ability to identify pruning seasons, fertilization and water requirements ► Construction Management (read and interpret landscape plans) ► Familiar with desert climate and special requirements of plant material. Specifically, southwest native plant material -west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southeast California, Mexico, Principal desert area Chihauhuan, Sonoran and Mojave. Other plant materials from Africa, Asia, Latin America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Mediterranean, Gobi Desert. Also, non-native plant species (oak trees) that thrive in desert climate. ► Knowledge and experience with public liability issues as they relate to traffic patterns integrated with landscape ► Familiarity and ability to identify all plant material contained in the City's "Recommended Guidelines for Pruning and Landscape Maintenance for the Civic Center Complex." Guide available for viewing in the Human Resource Department. ► Water Management — conservation, City's conservation ordinance — irrigation systems — requirements of each plant type — seasonal changes in water requirements 2 EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS ► Bachelor of Science in horticulture, landscape architecture, entomology, urban forestry or related field. ► Certified arborist ► Licensed in pesticides and herbicides WORK EXPERIENCE ► Minimum three years experience as a landscaping professional in a desert climate ► Minimum five years working in the public or private sector as a landscaping professional, including a minimum of three years in a supervisory and administrative role. ► Computer skills necessary ► Minimum two years experience in landscaping instruction in a classroom setting. 3 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION The position of URBAN FORESTER is responsible for the administration and inspection of the following medians and parks contracts: MEDIANS PARKS Highway 74 4 curb miles Community 8 acres Highway 111 4 curb miles Ironwood 12 acres Cook and Country Club 3 curb miles Haystack 10 acres (green belt) Fred Waring 3 curb miles Cahuilla 6 acres El Paseo 2 curb miles Cook Street 8 acres Monterey Avenue 1 curb mile Town Center Way 1 curb mile Hovley Lane West 1 curb mile Civic Center 72 acres (includes rose garden) The Civic Center Park is maintained by City employees. It is a major recreational center for the City. It contains many varieties of plants and shrubs with art exhibits and memorials. The following is a listing of the City's Redevelopment Agency projects that include landscape contracts. The URBAN FORESTER position will be responsible for working with the homeowners association(s) to ensure that contractors are performing to specifications. Multi-family complexes (8): One Quail Place 384 units 72-600 Fred Waring Drive Las Serenas 150 units 73-315 Country Club Drive Catalina Gardens 72 units 73-600 Catalina Way Desert Pointe 64 units 43-805 Monterey Avenue Neighbors Garden Apartment 24 units 73-535 Santa Rosa Way Santa Rosa Apartments 20 units 73-625 Santa Rosa Taos Palms 16 units 44-830 Las Palmas The Pueblos 15 units 73-695 Santa Rosa Way Single-family homes: Desert Rose 161 homes 75000 Fred Waring Drive 4