Definition
Applications must be filled out completely and thoroughly. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application.
Anchored in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada - 20 miles east of Sacramento and about 1.5 hours from Lake Tahoe - the City of Folsom is comprised of beautiful parks and trails, and boasts excellent schools, family-orientated neighborhoods, and outstanding shopping, dining, and cultural options. Folsom is a high-tech, forward-looking city, with firms ranging from small to large international corporations. Voted by WalletHub as the Best Place for Families to Live in California, and 2nd Best Lake Town in America, Folsom is recognized for its affordability, fair weather, education, and health. Folsom’s schools were recognized among the best in Sacramento County. Niche recently released its list of the Best in America for 2025, and Folsom swept the honors with seven elementary, two middle, and two high schools making the list.
The Community Development Department is currently hiring one (1) Arborist to assist the city’s Urban Forester to champion the continued health and sustainability of Folsom’s urban forest, ensuring it remains a vibrant asset that enriches our community. A key responsibility of this position will be to administer the City’s tree permit policies and act as an enforcement body of the City’s comprehensive Tree Preservation Ordinance, safeguarding the preservation and promoting the planting of trees across both new developments and existing land uses.
Under the direction of the Urban Forester, the Arborist will administer the city’s tree permit policies and assist with the review of development projects for compliance with applicable city regulations to ensure an environmentally appropriate and sustainable community forest. Incumbents may provide technical expertise to citizens and other city departments and may also oversee, monitor, and/or direct the work of lower level personnel.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Arborist is a singular classification that serves as a specialist while enforcing permit policies and assisting with ensuring developmental construction compliance with the city's environmental regulations. This classification is distinguished from the Urban Forrester in that the latter serves as the supervisor and requires a higher-level of professional skill and knowledge in administering and evaluating complex programs, services, and projects.
This is a non-exempt position and part of the Local 39 IUOE.
Tentative Recruitment Timeline
1st Round Oral Board Interviews - Week of June 30th
Final Department Interview - Week of July 7th
Examples of Essential Duties
NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.
NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Essential Duties" section of this specification.
Knowledge Of
Education:
A bachelor's degree in arboriculture, forestry, horticulture, entomology, landscape architecture, plant pathology, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
Experience
Three (3) years of full-time experience in work involving tree pest/disease control, tree planting, preservation, and maintenance, and/or landscape design/construction activities.
Substitution
Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis.
License, Certificate, Registration Requirements
Work is frequently performed in an office setting and occasionally in an outdoor environment. (1) Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting; occasional standing, walking, climbing, bending; occasional driving of vehicles. (2) Lifting: occasional lifting up to 10 pounds. (3) Vision: constant use of overall vision; color vision necessary. (4) Dexterity: occasional grasping, holding, and reaching. (5) Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking in person and via telephone. (6) Emotional/Psychological: frequent coworker and public contact; occasional working alone. (7) Environmental: occasional exposure to loud noise; occasional exposure to chemicals, fumes, and other environmental substances.
The City of Folsom offers a wide range of employee benefits. Click here for a summary of benefits for our Miscellaneous employees. For specific benefit information, refer to the labor agreements (MOUs) of each bargaining unit.
01
These supplemental questions are an important first step in our screening process. Failure to provide complete responses may result in your application not being considered. In addition, the successful candidate is made a conditional offer subject to background check, which requires DOJ fingerprint clearance and a pre-employment physical, including screening for drug and alcohol use. By checking the box below, I acknowledge that I have read and understood the above information.
The salary range for this position (M58) is $82,539.48 - $104,558.55 with the City typically hiring at step 1. By checking the box below, you acknowledge your understanding of salary paid for this position.
Are you in a familial, cohabitant, or amorous relationship with any current employee of the City of Folsom? Examples of these relationships include: spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin, grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, or great-grandchild. Relations may be by blood, marriage, adoption, or domestic partnership, including in-law, step- and half-relationships. (If yes, please answer the next question.)
Please list name of relative, relationship and department that your relative works in. (If not applicable, please type N/A)
05
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
How many years of full-time experience do you have performing duties involving tree pest/disease control, tree planting, preservation, and maintenance, and/or landscape design/construction activities
Are you currently in possession of a valid ISA Arborist certification? If yes, please attach to your application.
Are you currently in possession of any additional licenses or certifications? If yes, please list below and attach to the application. If not, put "N/A".
09
Briefly explain why you are interested in working for the City of Folsom's Community Development Department as an Arborist, and why you would excel in this role.
Applications must be filled out completely and thoroughly. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application.
Anchored in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada - 20 miles east of Sacramento and about 1.5 hours from Lake Tahoe - the City of Folsom is comprised of beautiful parks and trails, and boasts excellent schools, family-orientated neighborhoods, and outstanding shopping, dining, and cultural options. Folsom is a high-tech, forward-looking city, with firms ranging from small to large international corporations. Voted by WalletHub as the Best Place for Families to Live in California, and 2nd Best Lake Town in America, Folsom is recognized for its affordability, fair weather, education, and health. Folsom’s schools were recognized among the best in Sacramento County. Niche recently released its list of the Best in America for 2025, and Folsom swept the honors with seven elementary, two middle, and two high schools making the list.
The Community Development Department is currently hiring one (1) Arborist to assist the city’s Urban Forester to champion the continued health and sustainability of Folsom’s urban forest, ensuring it remains a vibrant asset that enriches our community. A key responsibility of this position will be to administer the City’s tree permit policies and act as an enforcement body of the City’s comprehensive Tree Preservation Ordinance, safeguarding the preservation and promoting the planting of trees across both new developments and existing land uses.
Under the direction of the Urban Forester, the Arborist will administer the city’s tree permit policies and assist with the review of development projects for compliance with applicable city regulations to ensure an environmentally appropriate and sustainable community forest. Incumbents may provide technical expertise to citizens and other city departments and may also oversee, monitor, and/or direct the work of lower level personnel.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Arborist is a singular classification that serves as a specialist while enforcing permit policies and assisting with ensuring developmental construction compliance with the city's environmental regulations. This classification is distinguished from the Urban Forrester in that the latter serves as the supervisor and requires a higher-level of professional skill and knowledge in administering and evaluating complex programs, services, and projects.
This is a non-exempt position and part of the Local 39 IUOE.
Tentative Recruitment Timeline
1st Round Oral Board Interviews - Week of June 30th
Final Department Interview - Week of July 7th
Examples of Essential Duties
NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.
- Review, process, and issue tree work and tree removal permits; evaluate arborist reports and draft conditions of permit approval.
- Review landscape and construction plans for residential and commercial development to ensure compliance with applicable city, state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
- Perform field inspections on public and private properties and new construction sites to ensure compliance with approved plans and permits.
- Inspect trees on public and private properties to verify location and determine condition, required maintenance, and suitability for preservation; inspect plant materials to ensure quality.
- Make recommendations to public and private entities regarding tree preservation techniques and landscape design.
- Plan and oversee the work of employees in tree planting, removal, and maintenance activities.
- Respond to citizens' inquiries and requests relative to tree services on private property and to determine tree permit requirements.
- Confer with arborists, contractors, developers, and the public on city standards for tree planting and maintenance.
- Assist in developing policies and specifications for tree preservation and landscape-related issues.
- Make presentations to committees, commissions, or groups, including the City Council.
- Issue citations for violations of applicable city, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Essential Duties" section of this specification.
Knowledge Of
- Chemical and biological measures used in tree pests/disease control work.
- Dendrology and plant physiology.
- Principles of horticulture, forestry, and arboriculture.
- Basic landscape architecture and construction.
- Standard practices, equipment, and tools used in tree maintenance work.
- Tree plant identification including: genus, species and cultivars.
- Tree risk and structure assessment.
- California's Model Water Efficiencies Landscape Ordinance (MWELO).
- Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS).
- Common word processing, spreadsheet, and database software
- Provide scientific and technical advice and assistance on problems relating to tree services activities.
- Oversee, monitor, and direct the work of other employees.
- Maintain records and learn electronic permitting and plan checking systems.
- Effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public.
- Interpret grading, civil, planting, irrigation and construction drawings and detect deviations from plans and regulations in the field.
- Maintain a certification with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Education:
A bachelor's degree in arboriculture, forestry, horticulture, entomology, landscape architecture, plant pathology, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
Experience
Three (3) years of full-time experience in work involving tree pest/disease control, tree planting, preservation, and maintenance, and/or landscape design/construction activities.
Substitution
Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis.
License, Certificate, Registration Requirements
- Possession of, or ability to obtain and retain, a California Class C driver license by the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Possession of an ISA Arborist certification.
Work is frequently performed in an office setting and occasionally in an outdoor environment. (1) Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting; occasional standing, walking, climbing, bending; occasional driving of vehicles. (2) Lifting: occasional lifting up to 10 pounds. (3) Vision: constant use of overall vision; color vision necessary. (4) Dexterity: occasional grasping, holding, and reaching. (5) Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking in person and via telephone. (6) Emotional/Psychological: frequent coworker and public contact; occasional working alone. (7) Environmental: occasional exposure to loud noise; occasional exposure to chemicals, fumes, and other environmental substances.
The City of Folsom offers a wide range of employee benefits. Click here for a summary of benefits for our Miscellaneous employees. For specific benefit information, refer to the labor agreements (MOUs) of each bargaining unit.
01
These supplemental questions are an important first step in our screening process. Failure to provide complete responses may result in your application not being considered. In addition, the successful candidate is made a conditional offer subject to background check, which requires DOJ fingerprint clearance and a pre-employment physical, including screening for drug and alcohol use. By checking the box below, I acknowledge that I have read and understood the above information.
- I have read and understood background and screening process.
The salary range for this position (M58) is $82,539.48 - $104,558.55 with the City typically hiring at step 1. By checking the box below, you acknowledge your understanding of salary paid for this position.
- I acknowledge understanding of salary paid for this position.
Are you in a familial, cohabitant, or amorous relationship with any current employee of the City of Folsom? Examples of these relationships include: spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin, grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, or great-grandchild. Relations may be by blood, marriage, adoption, or domestic partnership, including in-law, step- and half-relationships. (If yes, please answer the next question.)
- Yes
- No
Please list name of relative, relationship and department that your relative works in. (If not applicable, please type N/A)
05
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
- Did not complete high school or GED
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Some college
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
How many years of full-time experience do you have performing duties involving tree pest/disease control, tree planting, preservation, and maintenance, and/or landscape design/construction activities
- None
- Less than 3 years
- 3 to 4 years
- 4 to 5 years
- 5 to 6 years
- More than 6 years
Are you currently in possession of a valid ISA Arborist certification? If yes, please attach to your application.
- Yes
- No
Are you currently in possession of any additional licenses or certifications? If yes, please list below and attach to the application. If not, put "N/A".
09
Briefly explain why you are interested in working for the City of Folsom's Community Development Department as an Arborist, and why you would excel in this role.
- Required Question