Draper tree committee debates hiring full-time arborist vs. outsourcing mowing

The Draper Tree Committee discussed whether the city should create a dedicated arborist position or rely on outsourcing mowing to free existing staff for tree work.

"We need to have somebody who is dedicated and owns it, and they're passionate about it, and that's all they do," said David Cloward, committee chair. Cloward argued repeatedly that a single staff member who 'owns' the urban-forest function would improve long-term care and planning for the city’s trees. Other committee members said outsourcing mowing could return crew hours to tree-related tasks, but would not substitute for a full-time specialist.

Members noted current workloads spread certified staff across multiple duties and flagged the risk of reverting to reactive maintenance without clear ownership. No formal hiring decision was made; the discussion concluded with a direction to present these perspectives to city council for consideration.

Committee speakers referenced staffing trade-offs and near-term operational impacts rather than a concrete budgeted hire. The committee recommended the council be informed about both the benefits of a dedicated arborist and the short-term gains outsourcing mowing could yield.