HOA Board / general meeting in HOA park

Started by MichaelT21 • 9 replies • 309 views

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MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 462

Posted:

As some of you know, we don't have a clubhouse or other indoor location to have our HOA Board meeting in community meeting room in our neighborhood. However, we do have a lot of parks.

We are opening in the next month or so a community picnic area with 4 picnic tables. In theory, it might be a nice location to have an HOA Board meeting (non executive session) or budget ratification meeting.

Wondering if anyone here has tried having a HOA meeting in a neighborhood park? Any thoughts to suggest?

We have had some encouragement to have meetings in public locations. However, the best public location is a 15 minute drive away, and it seems pointless to have everyone drive 15 minutes for a community meeting that we could have in one of our parks.

Thanks!

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I had my meeting at the pool. Who says you can not decide where to have a meeting?

Former HOA President

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

We used our local school - it was free

My current HOA sets up a large awning and chairs for the annual meeting. They also hold a pot luck for the meeting.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

What is a "Budget Ratification meeting?" Is it required in WA? Is it a Board meeting or a meeting of the members?

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 462

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 10/02/2022 8:20 PM
What is a "Budget Ratification meeting?" Is it required in WA? Is it a Board meeting or a meeting of the members?

It's a meeting of homeowners. Every homeowner is invited to attend. If more than 50% of all homeowners attend the meeting AND vote down the budget, then the old budget stays in force until the Board proposes a new budget which is then ratified by homeowners.

Clearly, getting 50% of all homeowners to a meeting AND vote no is a huge barrier to meet. We might be able to triple dues and still not meet that threshold. But the law requires that we hold the meeting so we do every year. Last year we had 4 homeowners out of 274 attend. Past years (prior to last year) have had zero homeowners attend at times.

ND (PA)
Posts: 792

Posted:

Have a Plan B (maybe even Plan C) for inclement weather and a way for people to find out or be told of implementation of Plan B. That way in a single announcement of the event, you can indicate the main plan and the contingency plans in case of rain. Remind people to bring a chair if needed.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 10/02/2022 5:07 PM
As some of you know, we don't have a clubhouse or other indoor location to have our HOA Board meeting in community meeting room in our neighborhood. However, we do have a lot of parks.

We are opening in the next month or so a community picnic area with 4 picnic tables. In theory, it might be a nice location to have an HOA Board meeting (non executive session) or budget ratification meeting.

Wondering if anyone here has tried having a HOA meeting in a neighborhood park? Any thoughts to suggest?

We have had some encouragement to have meetings in public locations. However, the best public location is a 15 minute drive away, and it seems pointless to have everyone drive 15 minutes for a community meeting that we could have in one of our parks.

Thanks!

I say go with the 15 minute drive versus risk bad weather.

WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522

Posted:

keep it in your park. you can rent a professional tent for the day, or just set up a raindate in caes of bad weather. we have a picnic shelter and have met there often.

vis ta vie

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

With historically really low attendance (0 - 4 members), why even consider off site? If closest place is 15 minutes, even fewer owners
are likely to attend.

Would a director be willing to move the meeting to their home if rainy? You've written you don't want them in your home.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 462

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 10/04/2022 2:34 PM
With historically really low attendance (0 - 4 members), why even consider off site? If closest place is 15 minutes, even fewer owners
are likely to attend.

Would a director be willing to move the meeting to their home if rainy? You've written you don't want them in your home.

No, we can't have this at a director's home. The meeting has to be open to everyone if we are meeting in person, and there are a couple of homeowners who may pose a physical threat to the Board. Plus there are a couple homeowners who don't like xxxxx (name any one of the directors, there is at least one homeowner who doesn't like any specific director). We either need a public location for the meeting or do it 100% zoom.

I'm thinking 100% zoom.

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