At his State of the City address Thursday evening, Mayor Andrew Mullin announced that the Wayzata City Council has selected Aurora Yager as the city’s next City Manager.
“Earlier this week with the city council, and the vital support of our designated community and employee panels met with our finalists, and after this rigorous process I am proud to announce that Aurora Yager has been selected as our next city manager,” Mullin said to a round of applause.
After the applause subsided, Mullin added with a smile, “Thank you Aurora, for good or bad, we will be partners in crime for the next several years.”
The appointment follows a national search process that drew more than 30 applicants. The City Council reviewed nine semi-finalists before narrowing the field to three finalists, each of whom participated in multiple rounds of interviews involving councilmembers, senior staff, and community representatives.
Yager, who has served as Interim City Manager since October 2025 and previously as Deputy City Manager since 2019, ultimately emerged as the council’s choice .
In her role as Deputy City Manager, Yager served as Director of the Administration Department with oversight of Finance, Human Resources, Communications, and DMV services. She partnered closely with the City Manager and City Council to advance strategic priorities and organizational performance .
Her portfolio has included leading Wayzata’s annual budget process for an approximately $23 million consolidated budget and overseeing updates to the city’s 10-year, $47 million Capital Improvement Plan. She has also directed debt issuance processes and led bond rating calls to maintain the city’s AAA bond rating .
Yager has supervised department heads and administrative staff while supporting the management of roughly 175 employees citywide . Her work has included negotiations on collective bargaining agreements, long-range financial forecasting, and implementation of strategic initiatives such as the city’s first Quality of Life Community Survey .
Before joining Wayzata, Yager served as Assistant City Administrator in Howard Lake, where she managed public works operations along with finance, HR, and communications functions . She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas.
Reached by email Friday morning, Yager shared the following statement:
“I am truly honored to continue serving the Wayzata community as its next City Manager. Over the past six years as Deputy City Manager, I have developed a deep appreciation for Wayzata’s strong sense of community, its outstanding City staff, and its dedicated City Council. I am grateful for the opportunity to help lead Wayzata into its next chapter.”
Having observed a portion of the finalist interviews firsthand, it was clear Yager brought both command of operational detail and a steady, composed presence to the process. Her familiarity with Wayzata’s ongoing initiatives and institutional knowledge stood out during questioning.
With the council’s selection now formalized, Yager transitions from interim leadership into the permanent role as the city continues navigating major development discussions, infrastructure planning, and long-term strategic priorities.
Stay tuned for more on the State of the City Address from Mayor Andrew Mullin.
