City Perk Honored for Green Efforts

During Thursday's Green City Initiative workshop, Ross Chun, Founder and CEO of Eco-Stride and president, honored City Perk owners, Georges Avila and Lane Avery, with the 2011 FIRST STEP Award for their environmentally friendly approach to business and dedication to sustainability.

Both men “live where they work,” as Avery described it. They never need to take their cars out of the garage to get to work each morning.

“[The award] is validation that we’re on the right track," Avila said. "It’s nice to see there are people out there who recognize [what we do].”

Products used in the café, such as their biodegradable containers and Energy Star appliances, are environmentally friendly as well.

“City Perk has long been recognized as a local destination for fine coffee beverages and delicious treats, but more people should know about the efforts of its owners, Lane and George, to spread the important message of sustainable practices in our business community,” said Chun. “We look forward to their continued support and participation in future events and hope that more businesses will follow their good example.”

Learn more about City Perk's green practices here.

The 2010 FIRST STEP award was presented to Mission Landscape for their "long history of sustainable practices, and recent programs to recycle green waste and utilize organic fertilizers in the parks and common areas in Aliso Viejo."

Nominations are accepted in the Fall at eco-stride.com.

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Prior to the FIRST STEP Award presentation, Green City Initiative officials met with 26 residents to discuss land use during the 10th Initiative workshop.   

The Green City Initiative establishes goals, policies and implementation actions concerning recycling, transportation, energy conservation, vehicle management, water and wastewater conservations and management, air quality, land use and adaptation to climate change. It also includes a greenhouse gas emissions reduction monitoring program.

Thursday night's topic was land use, with a focus on the idea of making Aliso Viejo’s streets and buildings “mixed-use.” Meaning, in a period of 25 to 30 years, these buildings and streets will consist of a combination of land uses, such as residential, office, business park and commercial all in one area. The idea is to create “urban villages” in the city. An example of this already exists on Vantis Drive, where residential apartments sit above the businesses.

This helps by sharing energy, infrastructure, parking, transportation, construction costs, etc. It also saves on land space, supports open space and reduces vehicle usage. Also, with the high cost of green energy solutions, it is highly critical to share the cost.

It is part of the city's general plan to provide incentives for “zero net energy" — a single or group of buildings that produce as much energy as it consumes.

Land use initiatives proposed include:

• Walkable commercial locations throughout the city
• Investing in “complete streets” demonstration projects to promote favorable land use investments
• Community organic gardens
• Attract more entertainment uses to Town Center
• Youth recreation uses in Town Center
• Plant wildflower and other local plants ecosystems in underutilized open spaces
• Create more off-street pedestrian pathways
• Landscape Route 73

City officials described it as a means for a “healthier community.” Throughout the workshop, residents engaged in conversation to come up with ideas. It was announced that 30 percent of the “great ideas” in the Green City Initiative came from the community.

The Green City Initiative will be submitted to the city council for action by the end of 2011. The last workshop will be held on Jan. 19.