Community Services Issues and Opportunities for Comprehensive Guide Plan Updating, Planning Division: Minnetonka Community Development

Community Services Issues

The number of police officers and types of equipment has changed with population and land uses
Police calls are influenced by many factors:
- Type, density and value of residential land uses
- Types of business development
- Traffic conditions (volume and characteristics)
- Age of the population

High priority of police services oriented towards traffic enforcement.
Additional business development will increase enforcement actions; but crime type and enforcement action will vary.
Aging population will result in increased medical and assistance calls.
New residential development and redevelopment will increase the level of police calls.

The department has transitioned from an all-volunteer to paid, on-call firefighters.
Since 1980, three satellite fire stations have been added to respond to land use and development changes.
False alarms have decreased due to education and enforcement activities.
New building code standards and practices require fire prevention installations.
Additional firefighting equipment added for a variety of buildings, including large complexes and tall structures.
ISO rating is very favorable due to the available water supply, equipment, and well-trained staff.

Lack (and removal) of affordable housing and increase in home values affects the ability to recruit and retain firefighters.
Other social and economic factors, outside of city control, afffects recruitment and longevity of firefighters in Minnetonka.
Consideration of additional and/or more intense commercial/business uses may require additional and/or relocation of satellite fire stations.

Increased density, new transportation services and systems, and redevelopment will determine future fire and police services.