HomeMy WebLinkAbout5022-23 Special Resolution Honoring a True Visionary, Aaron Perri, Executive Director of Department of Venues Parks & Arts RESOLUTION
No. 5022-23
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
May 22, 20 23
Attest: 906e4j City Clerk
Dawn M. Jones
SAVAink •M
Attest: 1 President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
May 23, 23
20
/664Z ?it 041.4j City Clerk
Dawn M. Jones
Approved and signed by me 41 f 20 � j
Mayor
� C I it 1,
I
BILL NO. 23-25
414.
SPECIAL RESOLUTION NO. 5022-23
A SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL AND ON BEHALF
OF THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTH BEND,HONORING A TRUE VISIONARY,AARON PERRI,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VENUES PARKS &ARTS,FOR HIS
MANY AND TRANSFORMATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND.
64 a"visionary" is defined as"a person with original ideas about what the future will or
could be like"and a person"thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom; and
6)Iftorea4 Executive Director of the Department of Venues Parks&Arts, Aaron Perri, is not
only a"visionary" by these definitions,his many contributions to the quality of life of South Bend
residents establish that he is also a leader,a planner,a coworker, a fundraiser,a marketer,and whatever
else is necessary to help him and his staff to give effect to his vision of creating a better life for the
residents of South Bend; and
Offtorea4 in 2015,Aaron was persuaded by Mayor Pete Buttigieg to leave his position as
Executive Director of Downtown South Bend, Inc. and assume a position as Director of Parks and
Recreation, which would soon evolve into Executive Director of Venues Parks&Arts with the expanded
role of managing city venues, including the Morris Performing Arts Center,the Palais Royale and the
Century Center; and
61Kurerz4 Aaron probably never envisioned that his new position would one day,during a 1000-
year flood, cause him to walk the East Bank trail, in the dead of night,to evaluate the damage; and
Wsretat Aaron has never been known as a man of few words,which is expected of someone
who has overseen with excitement and enthusiasm projects such as the Howard Park renovation to the
My SB Parks&Trail initiative which allocated nearly$100 million for approximately 50 different park
projects,to the installation of the river lights,to the celebrations of the 100t birthday of the Morris
Performing Arts Center and South Bend's 150th anniversary,to the renovations of the Charles Black
Center,to the planned Martin Luther King,Jr. Dream Center; and
W./4mA Aaron has the same passion for smaller projects such as the Community Art Mural at
the corner of Colfax Avenue and Woodward Court which includes representations of nearly every
demographic from South Bend, inclusive of age,race,religion, sexual orientation,political belief, income
level, education status and beyond; and
6)Korea4 Aaron led, and sometimes cajoled and prodded,his team members to excellence by
telling them -make it bigger,""light it on fire"or"let them zip line in;"and
O��/�e , this passion resulted in the Department's award of the 2022 National Gold Medal
Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and
Recreation Administration,honoring the department for excellence in long-range planning,resource
management and innovative approaches to superior park and recreation services; and
Ofiexer7, one of Aaron's particular passions is the live entertainment booked at the Morris
Performing Arts Center,an outgrowth of his time booking entertainment at Legends at Notre Dame,
which served Aaron and the City well during the need on multiple occasions for Aaron to step in and
manage the Morris during leadership transitions; and
el‘rea4 Aaron is so proud of the Morris,he has a condominium overlooking the Morris and
the Plaza, although it has been rumored that Aaron uses this location, at times,to keep watch over his
team members working at the Morris and the Plaza; and
Aaron is driven by details from his hands on planning for each of the City's fireworks
displays,to his knowledge of the name and specific job of every one of the 100 plus members of the
Department of Venues Parks&Arts,to his desire to make every person feel welcome in the City's public
spaces; and
Oiexe.4 one co-worker has said that Aaron"has been changing the landscape of South Bend
since 2008,"while another has described Aaron as someone who"lived, ate, and breathed VPA"; and
6li‘retz4 the City,and more particularly,the Department of Venues Parks&Arts, as a token of
appreciation for Aaron's lasting contributions will name the plaza at the newly improved Seitz Park, "AP
Plaza at Seitz Park,"with a sign proclaiming"In honor of Aaron Perri and his dedication to the City of
South Bend."
. `fi' 'e, Ge xefo4 Gtr die ( i no v c`auned a dte (6,190(9146/ Find,
Licaiagze4alio :
Section I. The South Bend Common Council publicly honors and thanks Aaron Perri for his
many years of dedicated service to the City of South Bend, especially during his tenure as Executive
Director of the Department of Venues Parks&Arts.
Section II. The Common Council also wishes Aaron the best in all his future endeavors, including
his recent marriage to Jessica and his new employment.
Section III. The Common Council assures Aaron that his positive marks on the landscape of the
City of South Bend will remain for all to enjoy for many,many years to come.
Section IV. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from after its adoption by the
Common Council and approval by the Mayor.
c keti4 22nd elay ,9*2023
SAIAfrik M C344CL 211/4.4fritiat:
Sharon McBride, President Sheila Niezgodski, 6th District Council
South Bend Common Council Member
,(14:;(..4,441/4.
Canneth Lee, 1st Dis ct Council Karen L. White, At Large Council
Member Member
/AIL (-="fri51S14-1/4-444..a
Henry DCvis, Jr., b istn Council Lon . amann, At Large Council
Member Mem.:,
Troy arne 4th District Council Rachel Tomas Morgan, At Large
Member Council Member
Eli W,x, 5th district Council Member
S/61i0,. / -INA C3 `.
Sharon McBride, Council President
South Bend Common Council
Attest:
1..(lat 7lt • ii
Dawn M. Jones, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the
City of South Bend, Indiana, on the ,,3 day of / , 2023, at Ii
o'clock CZ .m. ,
Zoivo 2)(. . )yx,e4)
Dawn M. Jones, City Cler
Office of the City Clerk
L
Approved and signed by me on the Z"} day of 7 ,2023,at 3 o'clock
.m.
ittAl
Ja s Mueller, Mayor
City of South Bend