California usually permits associations to conduct remote
and virtual meetings via the Davis Stirling Act. Contact your association’s
attorney to see what your community’s options are for virtual meetings based
upon your governing documents.
Applicable Law: Davis Stirling Act
Davis
Stirling Act: A "virtual meeting" is not an email meeting between
directors (which is disallowed)
but rather a video or teleconference meeting where other directors can
participate in real time. Starting January 1, 2012, board members in different
locations can attend board meetings electronically as follows:
Director Attendance.
Board members who cannot physically appear in person at a board meeting
(whether regular, special, emergency or executive session) can attend
electronically by telephone or video. They can attend if the absent director
can hear all other board members and all other board members can hear the
absent director. Attendance in this manner counts as if the director were
physically present in the meeting. (Corp.
Code §7211(a)(6).)
Physical Location. If all directors attend an open
meeting by video or teleconference, notice of the meeting must identify at
least one physical location where owners can attend and listen to or observe
the board's meeting. (Civ.
Code §4090(b).) That means a conference phone or monitor must be at that
location so members can observe directors conduct the meeting. The arrangement
must allow for members to participate during Open Forum.
Emergency Conditions. During emergency conditions,
such as pandemics earthquakes, fires or floods, where members cannot meet in a
physical location, meetings can be held entirely by video or teleconference.
When that happens, instructions must be sent with the meeting agenda so members
know how to join the meeting either by video conference or telephone. See sample agenda.
2. Membership Meetings.
Everything described above also applies to membership meetings. Small
associations with members out of town or with absentee owners may find it
convenient to hold their annual meeting via a conference call. The call-in
number can be published so members can call into the meeting. Large
associations may find it unwieldy to hold their annual meeting via a
conference call-in number.