Welcome letter from the Mayor

Jan Callison

Dear New Resident:

On behalf of the city council, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the city of Minnetonka.

The citizens of Minnetonka have a great deal of pride in their city. Minnetonka has a thriving business community, high quality office developments, and beautiful residential areas. There are dozens of ponds and three major creek corridors in the city. In addition, careful planning has allowed the city to maintain a significant amount of open space, park lang and wetland areas. These characteristics help make Minnetonka truly a special community.

The community center, a part of the civic center complex on Minentonka Boulevard and Williston Road, houses an active senior citizens program, as well as a beautiful banquet room and meeting rooms for the public’s use. The city has numerous recreation programs and more than 40 public parks available to residents. In addition, there are many opportunities for citizens to participate in community recreational and volunteer activities.

I believe the quality of life in Minnetonka ranks the highest in the metropolitan area. We are pleased that you have chosen our city as a place to live. Below are more interesting facts about Minnetonka. Please take a few moments to acquaint yourself with them.

You are encouraged to look over the information on the new residents information page. If you have any questions or would like more information about Minnetonka, our staff would be pleased to assist you. The city hall phone number is 952.939.8200.

Sincerely,

Jan A. Callison
Mayor

Facts about Minnetonka

City size and boundaries

With a population over 51,000, Minnetonka, located in Hennepin County, is ranked the thirteenth largest community in Minnesota. The city comprises 17,938 acres in 28 square miles. Its geographical boundaries are Ridgemount Avenue West on the north, Town Line Road/Co. Rd. 62 on the south, State Hwy. 169 on the east, Vine Hill Road on the west.

Lakes

The following lakes are located in Minnetonka: Crane, Gleason, Glen, Holiday, Minnetonka, Rose, Windsor, Libbs, Line, Mud, Shady Oak, Shavers, Wing.

Shopping

Minnetonka has numerous retail shopping centers, including Ridgedale, a regional shopping center serving the western suburbs of the Twin Cities.

Highways

Five major highways traverse Minnetonka, making it readily accessible to all within the metropolitan area. Interstate 394 and State Highways 7 and 62 extend east and west (to and from Minneapolis). Interstate 494 and State Highway 169 extend north and south.

Minnehaha Creek

In addition to the 1,100 acres comprising Minnetonka’s parks, Minnehaha Creek and its headwaters, which begin in the northwest quadrant of the city and meander through the north half of Minnetonka, afford diverse recreational opportunities. A favorite of canoeists, Minnehaha Creek flows through several communities before eventually reaching Minnehaha Falls and the Mississippi River.

Trails

The Minnetonka Loop Trail System, providing a link to neighborhood and community parks, is 75 percent completed and offers over 30 miles of running, biking and walking trails.

Burwell House

The Charles Burwell House, a historic house museum, located at the intersection of Minnetonka Boulevard and Plymouth Road, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open for free public tours every Tuesday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from June through September, and by appointment.

Community activities

Minnetonka host several community activities each year:

  • Summer Festiva/Burwell Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social: held the fourth Saturday in June at the Civic Center and on the Burwell House grounds.
  • Fire Department/City-wide Open House: held at the Civic Center in October.
  • Silver Skates Ice Revue: held in May at the Minnetonka Ice Arena.
  • Stages Theatre Company: productions scheduled throughout the year; call 952.979.1111 for more information.
  • Music Association of Minnetonka: free concerts presented by several groups throughout the year; call 952.401.5054 for particulars.

City council

The city council, elected on a non-partisan basis, is comprised of a mayor and six council members, four of whom are elected by ward and two elected at large. Each serves a term of four years. The form of government established by the city charter is the council-manager plan. The council exercises the legislative power of the city and determines all matters of policy. It has the responsibility of basic decisions for the community including appointment of the city manager, who is responsible for putting council policies in effect and carrying out the business of city government.

City staff

The city employs approximately 200 full-time employees. The police department has 51 sworn officers. There are 85 paid on-call firefighters (Minnetonka carries a No. 4 class rating).