Homeowner Association Collaboration in Rosemount

Abstract

This project was completed as part of a year-long partnership between the City of Rosemount and the University of Minnesota’s Resilient Communities Project (http://www.rcp.umn.edu). The City of Rosemount is home to several residential developments governed by Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs), which serve as intermediaries between residents and local governments. HOAs often share responsibility with cities for the maintenance of public spaces, including sidewalk maintenance and snow and tree removal. Yet because there is no standard arrangement for which party bears which responsibilities and no formal channels of communication between the two parties, the lines of authority are often unclear. The goal of this project was to identify opportunities for City collaboration and partnership with HOAs to provide public benefit and improved services. In collaboration with city project lead Christine Watson, Public Works Coordinator for the City of Rosemount, a student in LAW 7750: Community Practice and Policy Development analyzed HOA foundation agreements between the City and developers and interviewed HOA members and leadership to identify barriers to communication and provide recommendations for future collaboration. A final report from the project is available.