City of Torrance Class Code: 5721	July 1995 (Revised)
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Definition

Under general supervision, performs routine and varied unskilled and semi-skilled tasks in maintaining parks, parkways, medians, trees, park and recreation facilities, and City properties; operates and maintains power tools and hand tools; drives service trucks or other maintenance equipment; assists other maintenance personnel in completing assigned tasks; and does related work as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Groundskeeper is the entry-level classification in the maintenance series. Groundskeepers are distinguished from Senior Groundskeepers in that incumbents are not primarily responsible for the overall maintenance of a City park or area. Groundskeepers perform tasks which are less complex and do not require specialized knowledge of work practices. Depending upon the position assignment, functional supervision is provided on a daily basis from either a full-time supervisor, a Senior Groundskeeper or a Senior Tree Trimmer. Groundskeepers follow established procedures, respond to routine questions from the general public and simple public requests, obtain direction in solving work problems, and refer public complaints to supervision for resolution.

Examples Of Duties

• Plants, trims, cultivates, and waters grass, ground covers, trees and shrubs in parks, parkways, median strips, City properties, and other landscaped areas;
• Maintains recreational and park facilities including park buildings, restrooms, play equipment, athletic fields, parking areas, and ball courts, and other City properties;
• May operate water trucks, dump trucks and service trucks or other maintenance equipment such as non-riding type power mowers, weed cutters and other power-driven maintenance equipment;
• May perform minor adjustments and maintenance of tree trimming equipment; may perform minor repairs and maintenance of irrigation/sprinkling systems, park facilities, or other maintenance equipment;
• Keeps simple records, including basic daily work activity reports;
• Removes trees, shrubs and brush using power tools or hand trimmers;
• Shreds and disposes of limbs, branches and large brush utilizing the appropriate equipment;
• May assist with the mixing and application of sprays and fertilizers.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Proper and efficient use of hand tools, power tools and equipment used in gardening, maintenance and construction;

Basic safety practices.

Ability to:

Use hand-operated gardening tools and power tools;

Operate light motorized equipment used in gardening, park maintenance and construction work;

Perform assigned maintenance tasks following established departmental work procedures and techniques;

Learn care techniques for maintaining parks, parkways, medians, trees, and recreational facilities;

Follow work safety procedures and practices;

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the general public;

Understand and carry out oral and/or written instructions;

Read and follow label directions on chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers in order to use properly and safety;

Complete basic work activity records and time reports;

Learn to trim trees, shrubs and large plants;

Learn to safely shred and dispose of tree limbs, branches and large plants and shrubs by operating a chipper;

Physically perform duties requiring repeated bending and stooping as well as heavy lifting;

Drive vehicles with automatic and manual transmissions.

Education/Training/Experience

No specific minimum requirements. However, general familiarity with maintenance procedures for landscaped areas and a general knowledge of tree cultivation, pruning, shaping, and trimming are desirable.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License. Assignment to the Tree Services Division requires possession of a valid Class B California Driver's License prior to completion of probation.