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City of Minnetonka Honored With 2026 LMC City of Excellence Award

June 26, 2026

 

The City of Minnetonka received the League of Minnesota Cities 2026 City of Excellence Award in the 30,000-and-over population category Thursday at the League’s Annual Conference in Rochester. Minnetonka was honored for its Drones as First Responders (DFR) program.

Launched in 2025, the Minnetonka Police Department’s Drones as First Responders program is the first of its kind in Minnesota. The program integrates unmanned aerial systems into daily public safety operations, allowing drones to be dispatched to certain 911 calls and provide live aerial support to police and fire personnel responding to emergencies.

The program was developed through a collaborative effort involving the police department, fire department, information technology staff, public works, city leadership, and communications team. Over a 10-month period, city staff worked together to procure equipment, develop policies and operating procedures, ensure Federal Aviation Administration compliance, and train personnel. The system includes remotely operated drones, five charging docks located on city-owned facilities, and software that provides real-time video transmission to first responders.

Since implementation in August 2025, drones arrived on scene before ground responders in 67% of calls, providing critical information that helped responders assess situations, allocate resources, and make informed decisions before personnel arrived. In 18% of calls, incidents were resolved without the need to dispatch ground units, allowing police officers and firefighters to remain available for higher-priority emergencies.

The DFR program also provides a cost-effective approach to enhancing public safety services. By leveraging existing staff, grant funding, and technology investments, Minnetonka expanded its response capabilities without adding new personnel positions. The city projects the program will save more than $5.3 million through 2035 by offsetting planned staffing expansions while maintaining high levels of service.

Minnetonka designed the program with transparency and accountability as guiding principles. Policies ensure drones are used only for calls for service and not for routine surveillance, balancing public safety benefits with community expectations for privacy. Through innovation, collaboration, and responsible implementation, the city has created a model for modern emergency response that improves service while making efficient use of public resources.

The City of Excellence Awards are given annually by the League of Minnesota Cities in three population categories and one topical category. The awards recognize cities for outstanding programs or projects. Each winning city receives a plaque, a check for $1,000, and recognition in League publications and promotional activities throughout the coming year.

The League of Minnesota Cities is a membership organization dedicated to helping cities throughout Minnesota build quality communities through effective advocacy, expert analysis, trusted guidance, and collective action. The League serves over 830 member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services.