Join us on Thursday, July 29th at 6:00 pm to hear from two attorneys who have worked on CEQA cases in the Central Valley. We'll get their perspectives on how to avoid CEQA litigation.

The attorney panel will discuss the role of staff, consultants, decisionmakers, project proponents and opponents, and attorneys throughout the environmental review process. The panel will explore the relationship between the various interested parties, and discuss developing issues regarding how the various interested parties interact with each other. The panel will focus on providing practical tips and suggestions for all interested parties to help avoid CEQA litigation.

Michael P. Slater:
Michael Slater has practiced law in Central California for 20 years. He has extensive experience working in the private, municipal and corporate sectors. Mr. Slater’s practice areas include municipal, real estate and land use matters, including the California Environmental Quality Act, Endangered Species Act, Subdivision Map Act, planning, entitlement, zoning, land acquisition, easements, and leases. Mr. Slater has personally worked with public entities, city council members, managers and department heads on environmental issues and the CEQA process, the subdivision of land, eminent domain, Constitutional, utility, nuisance, rent control, historic preservation, housing, and code enforcement issues. Mr. Slater has managed, litigated or resolved numerous CEQA and land use matters.

Patience Milrod:
Patience Milrod has practiced law in Fresno since 1980, litigating civil and criminal cases, in state and federal courts, in trial and on appeal. Since the early 1980s, she’s also been active in planning and land use issues here as a “citizen planner,” including serving as Chair of the Tower District Specific Plan Committee (1987 to 1991), as a member of the Great Valley Center Advisory Committee (1998-present), and currently as Chair of the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan Committee (City of Fresno). In 2001, Patience began studying environmental and land use planning at the University of California at Davis. That interest expanded into her litigation practice, and since 2002 has formed a significant portion of her work, restricted in geographic scope to the Central San Joaquin Valley. Patience lives with her husband in the Tower District; their daughter is 19.

Go to www.aepcentral.net to register. Cost is $20.