Donald Garrett Secures DC Legislative Victory for Electronic Co-Op Meetings

Washington, DC – During its May 3, 2022, legislative meeting, the DC Council voted to approve emergency and temporary legislation that would extend the ability of DC Cooperative Associations to meet by remote means until approximately October 13, 2022. The legislation is awaiting signature by the DC Mayor. Last Minute Meetings provided government relations and stakeholder engagement services to a cooperative client to help advocate for changes in the DC Code.

In response to this vote, Donald Garrett, MPA, PRP, the Principal of Last Minute Meetings said the following, “Prior to the passage of the bill, there was an inequity in DC: regardless of what was contained in their bylaws, condominiums were able to meet electronically but co-ops were not allowed to. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that all community associations have access to the same safety measures. I helped my client conduct grassroots advocacy, and, after a months-long campaign, our bill passed Council unanimously.”

The DC Council recognized the inequity between the types of community associations. In the adopted emergency resolution, the DC Council agreed, “Emergency legislation is necessary to provide parity between condominiums and cooperatives to hold remote meetings, which will allow cooperatives to conduct business that has been on hold without the ability to meet virtually.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Last Minute Meetings has been helping governmental entities and other organizations and associations conduct their business in electronic meetings, ensuring that both membership rights are respected and that statutory provisions are compiled with. Donald Garrett is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, certified by the National Association of Parliamentarians.

Read the Legislation:

• B24-0781 – Coronavirus Support Remote Cooperative Association Meetings Emergency Amendment Act of 2022
• B24-0782 – Coronavirus Support Remote Cooperative Association Meetings Temporary Amendment Act of 2022
• PR24-0714 – Coronavirus Support Remote Cooperative Association Meetings Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2022

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Donald Garrett, MPA, PRP is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian based in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area (Northern Virginia). He received both his Bachelor of Arts (Government) and Master of Public Administration from George Mason University.
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