Residents of City of Minnetonka continue to report high satisfaction with city services and quality of life, while also expressing strong support for future community investments, according to a 2026 residential survey conducted by the Morris Leatherman Company. Nearly half of respondents said they have lived in Minnetonka for more than 11 years, while 61% expect to remain in the city at least another decade.
Overall, 96% rated Minnetonka’s quality of life as excellent or good. Residents most often cited the city’s lakes, parks, trails, neighborhoods, schools and natural environment as Minnetonka’s greatest strengths.
Public safety services received some of the highest marks in the survey. Police services earned a 95% positive rating, while fire protection received 94% positive ratings. Residents also reported strong confidence in police professionalism and emergency response. At the same time, respondents identified several emerging concerns, including traffic congestion and lack of sidewalks.
Though property taxes rank as a concern, the survey also revealed broad support for maintaining city services through future investments. Eighty percent of respondents said they would support a property tax increase if needed to maintain current service levels.
Support was similarly strong for projects tied to a proposed local sales tax referendum known as Minnetonka Together. About 80% of respondents supported rebuilding two fire stations, expanding trail connections, improving The Marsh wellness center and adding park and open space near the future light rail station in the Opus area.
Parks, trails and recreation facilities continue to serve as defining community assets. Most residents reported using parks and trails regularly, primarily for recreation and wellness activities.
The city council reviewed and accepted the survey at its May 18 meeting. The Morris Leatherman Company conducted a statistically valid telephone survey of a random sample of 400 Minnetonka residents in March 2026. Interviews were conducted by trained interviewers using a standardized questionnaire. Results are representative of the city's adult population and are subject to a sampling margin of error of approximately ±4.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
