Temporary Senior Development Review Arborist

Job Summary

Note:

This role is a temporary opportunity with an anticipated end date of December, 31 2028. The anticipated end date is subject to departmental and budgetary considerations.

The Senior Development Review Arborist provides advanced arboricultural development review services for the Planning and Building Department. Reviews complex development applications for compliance with City tree management and landscape regulations, coordinates vegetation management practices, assists in creating policies and regulations related to trees, and applies professional judgment to make recommendations and decisions regarding tree retention, selection of appropriate vegetation, tree health and safety, and other related development issues.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This position is distinguished from the Development Review Arborist by the complexity, controversial nature, and/or high visibility of the type of assignments. The Senior Development Review Arborist provides technical support for policy development, but the Environmental Programs Coordinator spearheads the implementation of urban forestry initiatives. Unlike the Field Arborist, this position does not perform maintenance or pruning.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer.

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Acts as a subject matter expert and resource to staff for complex issues relating to arboriculture.
• Reviews complex development applications and public projects for compliance with City's zoning regulations; evaluates trees on development sites, reviews landscape plans, and makes discretionary permitting decisions. This includes peer review of arborist reports submitted with development applications.
• Recommends adjustments to complex development project designs.
• Identifies, tracks, and develops zoning code amendments related to trees and vegetation.
• Provides technical assistance in the preparation of policies, codes, guidelines, and standards pertaining to the care, protection, and maintenance of trees, especially with the City's Urban Forest Strategic Management Plan.
• Reviews tree removal notifications and tree removal permits for compliance with regulations, especially in more complex cases that may include peer reviews of Level 3 tree risk assessments, including evaluations of reports that incorporate resistance drilling, sonic tomography, and/or tree pulling tests.
• Leads internal working groups related to implementation of City tree policies and goals through application of the zoning code, as well as development of inter-departmental tree related permitting procedures.
• Presents permit decisions to the Hearing Examiner, which includes writing staff reports and testifying at quasi-judicial hearings.
• Participates as needed in pre-application and pre-construction meetings to convey information about the City's regulations.
• Conducts field inspections of landscape projects to determine compliance with designs, plans, specifications, and conditions of approval.
• Provides information to the public, permit applicants, and public officials (over the telephone, at the counter, through e-mail, and at meetings) regarding the City's tree regulations and policies.
• Plans and conducts training sessions for staff, arborists, applicants and community members on development regulations and in the care and maintenance of trees and plantings.
• Supports the Environmental Program Coordinator and Senior Planners with outreach efforts, particularly related to the Urban Forest Strategic Management Plan and code amendments related to trees.
• Supports the Code Enforcement Officer, including code analysis and site visits. Provides subject matter expertise to…