Woodland Ridge Association
Woodland Ridge Annual Meeting
Date: July 26th, 2026
Time: 5 PM – 6:30PM
Location: Episcopal High School
Alumni Center
3200 Woodland Ridge Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Agenda:
Review of WRA Status
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A) Overview – Cloyce Clark opened the meeting with the following summary of the HOA status:
WRA HOA Status: Introduction and Summary
For many years, the WRA (Woodland Ridge Association) operated under the assumption that it functioned as a single, consolidated Homeowners Association (HOA) covering all seven filings, with mandatory annual dues. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Association began filing liens to collect past-due assessments. This practice was challenged in 1996 when a resident sued the HOA. The Association lost the lawsuit, with the judge ruling that mandatory dues had never been properly approved by a vote of the members and that the assessments were therefore invalid.
In response to this long-standing legal reality, the WRA transitioned in 2022 to a fully voluntary donation model, eliminating mandatory dues. Since then, annual participation rates have dropped from 80-90% to an average of approximately 60%, with the following recent figures:
● 2024–2025: 57.58%
● 2025–2026: 61.37%
● 2026–2027 (to date): 30.09%
WRA 2026 Annual Meeting Minutes 7-26-26.docx 2
To maintain financial stability amid fluctuating donations, the Association implemented cost reductions in 2024–2025, including eliminating the landscaper contract and reducing security coverage to 30 hours per month with one officer.
Current Concerns The primary risk with the voluntary model is declining participation as new homeowners move into the community. Many newer residents may choose not to contribute, potentially causing the participation rate to continue falling.
Future Direction Since 2022, the Restriction Committee has been developing a unified set of HOA rules and covenants grounded in applicable city and state laws. The goal is to establish one formal HOA encompassing all seven filings plus the Colonies and Kelleher properties under a single, common set of standards.
The proposed structure includes mandatory annual dues of $150. To respect long-term residents, a grandfather clause would allow existing homeowners the option to permanently opt out of the dues. However, upon sale of any property, the new owners would be subject to the mandatory $150 annual dues.
This approach aims to provide long-term financial stability, consistent community standards, and equitable participation across the entire WRA neighborhood.
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B) Restriction Committee plans and goals
Section B included the prepared comments by our Restrictions Committee Chair, Jo Ann Levert
UPDATE ON RESTRICTIONS
INTRODUCTION:
Good evening, neighbors and Councilwoman Denise Amarosa. I’m Jo Ann Levert, a homeowner for 54 years in Filing I, WRS EAST and Chair of the Restrictions Committee
Restrictions Committee goals and priorities are ensuring that any changes to your restrictions consider:
● Protection to your property values
● Respect for your property titles - where the restrictions run with the land
● A strict following of louisiana laws
WRA 2026 Annual Meeting Minutes 7-26-26.docx 3
Our Committee has drafted a set of revised restrictions, almost ready to turn over to the board for the next steps.
THE NEXT STEPS INCLUDE OUR PLANS
To educate lot owners and the board so you know exactly what to look at when you study the revised declaration and your own restrictions as they apply to your subdivision and your filing, where you live.
FOCUS ON THREE CRITICAL ELEMENTS:
● Membership
● Dues
● Enforcement
Knowing these three elements helps you understand your own property rights and Obligations and will determine the number of votes needed in your filing to adopt
THE THREE VOTING THRESHOLDS include:
● Threshold 1: Greater than 50% Vote: (Simple Majority of All Lots in a Filing
RESTRICTIONS PROVIDE AMENDMENTS TAKE GREATER THAN 50%
● Threshold 2: Supermajority- 80% of All Lots in a Filing PLANNED COMMUNITY ACT states more onerous amendments take 80% supermajority vote of all lot owners in that filing. (R.S. 9:1141.11: any amendment making building restrictions more restrictive requires an 80% supermajority vote of the total filing membership).
● Threshold 3: New Mandatory Obligations (100% Unanimous Agreement) Applies to completely unrestricted tracts and filings without HOA membership or dues
THE LAW, 1998 BRIER LAKE La. SCT case AND 1st Circuit Mandel 1986 Case, REQUIRE 100% ON NEWLY ENACTED REVISIONS
To simplify- and build your confidence - let’s look at each filing as an island.
● 3 Subdivisions: WRS with 7 filings (but filing 5 became WRES): WR BLVD; Tall Timbers; Highmeadow Court; Deerpath; Westerwood; Woodshire; WRES: 1 Filing – Chapelwood; WR Park Subdivision: with 2 filings – WR Ave; Harwood-Sessions.
Introduce the team of leaders whose expertise comes from a cross section of the 3 subdivisions and the many filings in each.
Our Team members from WRS –
Rob Bourgeois, Tyler McCloud WR Blvd Island; Andrea Vidrine – Tall Timbers Island; WRA 2026 Annual Meeting Minutes 7-26-26.docx 4
Eddie Dimao – Highmeadow Court Island; Mike Nichols- Deerpath Island; Craig/Sharon Broulette- The Westerwood Island; Donna Berry- The Woodshire Island; Dennis Pennington, me and Rich Thompson, my late husband – The Chapelwood Island; Julie Krutz, Melissa Lowett, Rick Stewart- WR Ave Island; Sam Higdon, Don Pulliam – Harwood-Sessions Island.
CLOSING
Our committee has spent four years drafting these rules to get you to adopt for maintaining and growing your property values!
Clear, legally sound rules make our subdivision highly desirable to future buyers.
The draft of the new Unified Declaration is close to done, but it is not final. Before we deliver this text directly to the Board of Directors, we want to listen to your feedback tonight because your property rights and your education matter.
QUESTIONS-DISCUSSION!
You will have a new board tonight. I recommend any of the leaders from our committee would make excellent BOD members: Sam Higdon; Rob Bourgeois; Eddie Dimao; Julie Krutz; Dennis Pennington, Melissa Levett, etc any of us.
Let’s keep Woodland Ridge a legally safe and high-value neighborhood to live in.
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C) ) Comments from our guests
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1. Councilwoman – Denise Amoroso
Councilwoman Amoroso commented on the bike lanes added on S. Harrells Ferry (SHF). She said yes, it is a change and was confusing for a while, but they will stay so be careful and get used to it.
Mowing on SHF, Woodland Ridge Blvd. and interstate exchanges was addressed. The mowing contract lapsed and the council is looking at bids for a new contract complicated because the DOTD wants the city to mow the interstate exchanges.
The Baton Rouge 311 system will be moving to AI. AI will filter duplicate calls and send updates to everyone registering a complaint.
2. Fred Raiford - Director of Transportation & Drainage City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge
The Board thanked Fred Raiford for the resurfacing of Woodland Ridge Blvd., adding speed indicator devices along the boulevard and having the trees removed from the line of vision at the SHF and WRB entrance. WRA 2026 Annual Meeting Minutes 7-26-26.docx 5
Fred addressed the new SHF bike lanes and said they are still being improved with lane markings and signs.
He has contacted DOT to address the new “no turn on Red” signs at the SHF and S. Sherwood Forest and S. Sherwood Forest and I-12 intersections. He recognizes that the new signs are hindering traffic flow.
He addressed the SHF tree planting project and recognizes the trees are planted under utility lines and will be a problem in the future. Trimming is in the plan.
The Jones Creek and Weiner Creek drainage issues were addressed. Jones Creek flow out of the area has improved into the Amite River based on studies after the recent clearing project. Weiner is still in progress.
All projects have been delayed by permit and money issues.
3. Scott Courtright – WRA Tree Health
Scott has been maintaining our trees for 20 years. He has a deep root feeding and trimming schedule and provides us with a family and friends’ price. He recently trimmed and spread and corrected the mulch at the base of the trees.
He gave a brief warning about “trimming” your neighbor trees when they grow into your yard. Basically, don’t do it.
He offered his tree services, at a discount, to everyone in our neighborhood.
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D) Financial Review
John Serbeck presented a financial review of WRA HOA.
A 2026-2027 proposed budget was presented. A motion was made to approve the budget. A vote was taken and the members in attendance approved the proposed budget.
The presentation is posted on at woodlandridgebr.com
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E) Election of Board Members
The Board opened the floor for nomination.
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F) Concluding Remarks
The Board thanked everyone for their attendance. The meeting closed at 7PM.