The addition of the arborist position also allows the city to better coordinate issues involving trees that happen throughout the various city divisions. The arborist can work alongside the city’s Public Works division and its Electric division tree crews to augment their efforts and to help address crew safety issues. This type of coordination is one of the ways the arborist helps the city to lower the costs associated with tree care.

Tree safety is a primary concern of the City Arborist. Working with the electric division the arborist is tasked to implement the Electric Division Line Clearance Program. The goal of the program is to improve the reliability of the city’s electric distribution service by working to maintain required limb clearance around power lines and poles. The program also provides informational materials for the general public explaining the program, and showing property owners how to properly plant and maintain trees under and around powerlines.