Michael represents public agencies in matters involving real estate, transportation, and environmental law. He has played an active role in several acquisitions of railroad rights-of-way on behalf of public transportation agencies, including the purchase of the commuter rail line from San Francisco to San Jose on behalf of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. He also worked on the purchase of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad right-of-way between Napa and Mendocino counties by a consortium of agencies. He has advised public and private railroad clients with regarding to regulatory issues arising under federal and state law.
Michael has counseled public agencies with regard to transit-oriented development projects and has negotiated long-term ground leases and other types of public-private partnerships. He has also negotiated numerous contracts for the use of public property by telecommunications companies. Michael has counseled public transit agencies with regard to property management, construction, environmental issues and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Michael currently serves as general counsel to the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority. He has also served as the principal assistant to the city attorney of a Bay Area municipality, where he was responsible for zoning, environmental compliance, code enforcement and telecommunications regulations. He has extensive experience in the legal obligations of public agencies under statutes governing access to public records, conflict of interest regulations and open meeting laws.
Publications
"Partnering with the Private Sector to Fill the Infrastructure Gap," Progressive Fix (May 2010)
"The Local Regulation of Interstate Railroads," City Attorneys Annual Conference, League of California Cities (May 2008)
"Creative Approaches to Land Acquisition," co-author, California Transit Magazine (January/February 2008)
"Governor Vetoes Bill Limiting Staff Briefings of Public Officials," Public Agency Advisory (November 2007)
"Public Agencies Face New Restrictions in Contracting with Design Professionals," Public Agency Advisory (March 2007)
"The Troubled Public Construction Project: When is it Time to Call in the Surety?," League Of California Cities Annual Conference (October 2005)
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Presentations
"Current Issues in Public Agency Law," County Counsels' Association (September 2012)
"Negotiating Indemnity Provisions in Contracts with Design Professionals," League of California Cities (May 2012)
"Do You Hear My Train A Comin' — Railroad Crossings & Quiet Zones," Contra Costa City Attorney's Association (March 2007)
"Transit Oriented Development (TOD): Best Practices and Funding," California Transit Association (November 2007)
"Addressing Railroad Noise via Quiet Zones," League of California Cities and California Employer Advisory Council Public Works Officers Institute (March 2009)
"The ABC’s of PPP’s: The Basics Regarding Public-Private Partnerships," International Right of Way Association (June 2010)
"Bracing for Construction Claims During a Slow Economic Recovery," Hanson Bridgett Public Agency Construction Seminar (September 2010)
"Design Build/Public Private Partnerships," co-presenter, County Counsels’ Association of California Fall 2011 Public Works & HazMat Study Section (October 2011)
"Creative Options for Delivering Public Works Projects: Design/Build and Public-Private Partnerships," co-presenter, 2011 CSDA Annual Conference (October 2011)
"High Speed Rail: Who Knows Where or When?," Peninsula Forward Project (Local Cable Television)
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