Q&A with Laurie Hokkanen, Victoria's new city manager

Victoria's new city manager won't need a road map to get to her new job. Laurie Hokkanen lives in Chaska and was Chanhassen's assistant city manager before starting her job in Victoria on Nov. 10.

Hokkanen, 33, grew up in a military family that moved frequently. She says that experience — seeing how some cities worked well while others didn't — sparked her interest in a public administration career.

The following are excerpts from a recent interview.

Q: What was it about the Victoria job that appealed to you?

A: Victoria is a community with a lot of opportunity for growth. Many of my former co-workers in Chanhassen have been with that city for all or most of their careers and have had the chance to see Chanhassen go from very little to what it is today and have had such a positive experience with that. I look at Victoria and see the same opportunity. There's a lot going on here now, but so many more projects over the next 10 years.

Q: How do you think your Chanhassen experience will help you in Victoria?

A: Most important are the relationships I already have. For example, both communities contract for police services with the Carver County Sheriff's Office. One of my jobs in Chanhassen was to manage that contract, so I know many of the deputies, as well as Jim Olson, who was the Chanhassen liaison prior to being elected sheriff. I know folks at the school district, at Carver County in general and city administrators throughout the county. So while I still have a lot to learn, that sort of gives me a leg up.

A: Sometimes there's confusion over what a city manager does and what the mayor does. Some people don't realize that the mayor and council don't work full time on behalf of the city. I draw a private-sector comparison — the city manager is like the president or CEO of the company and the City Council is like the board of directors. It's their job to set policy and it's my job and the staff's job to implement policy.

Q: Do you consider it part of your job to give opinions to the mayor and council, or is that a line you prefer not to cross?

A: I think it's important for the city manager to give recommendations to the City Council. It's also important to remember that in the end these are their decisions and that they've been elected to make those decisions. But city managers know about things that happen on a day-to-day basis, and we also know trends around the Twin Cities area, so it's important to share that knowledge with the council.

Q: What have you been doing or plan to do to meet people in Victoria and what have they been telling you?

A: I've been setting up one-on-one meetings with people who I know are active in the community. I'll be attending committee and commission meetings. We have some exciting events coming up with our 100th anniversary next year. A group of citizens have volunteered to help with that, and I'll be reaching out to them. The SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce sponsors a monthly meet-and-greet event. I went last month and met about 20 local business owners.

Q: Like other cities, Victoria has a goal of revitalizing its downtown, where a proposal for a residential project recently fell through. What do you think should be done to chart a future for Victoria's downtown district?

A: The City Council plans to embark on a strategic plan for downtown after the first of the year. Part of that will be to look at [the site of the canceled housing project]. There are some positive developments, like our new City Hall and library. I am so pleased the decision was made to build those downtown. ENKI Brewing also is looking at expanding.