The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) recently completed a landmark project with Pasadena City College (PCC). The influential Community College was the first AGZA Certified Green Zone established in the City of Pasadena. The Level 2 certification requires all handheld tools and small, and large electric mowers to be used for routine maintenance on all college campus grounds.
The ceremony was well attended and college, local, and state dignitaries were in attendance to give remarks in support of the certification. From PCC, Superintendent and President, Dr. Jose Gomez, VP, Candace Jones, Board of Trustees, Kristine Kwong and Steve Gibson, and Carl Shaeffer, Manager of Operations. South Coast AQMD Vice Chair, Michael Cacciotti, and Upper San Gabriel Water District, Charles Trevino. Staffers from Assembly Member Chris Holden, Assembly Member Mike Fong, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Representative Judy Chu came out and gave remarks and awards on behalf of their representatives.
All of the speakers were united in acknowledging the grounds management and staff for their achievement and thanking them for beautifying the PCC college campus every day. Also recognized were the PCC student body, and grounds supervisors from other AGZA Green Zone Certified academic institutions. Eric Diaz of West Coast Arborists, formal grounds supervisor at USC, and Ruben Flores grounds supervisor at Mount San Antonio College work closely with Daryl Montgomery who helps Mr. Sheaffer manage the grounds staff and coordinate campus operations. The AGZA Green Zone Certification family is growing and able to share ideas and experiences to further low-impact operations.
Of course, AGZA baked up a healthy batch of Green Zone cookies with the logos and seals of the college, South Coast AQMD, and AGZA, and even made some with the equipment manufacturer logos whose equipment is being used on the campus grounds to maintain the AGZA Level 2 Green Zone standard.
The ceremony was also joined with manufacturer representatives of Mean Green Mowers, STIHL USA, and Kress Tools. These companies were chosen by PCC and are pushing the envelope of commercial battery electric technologies that must shoulder the AGZA Green Zone Certification standards which require daily robust use of their tools in perpetuity.