For more than 20 years, Bill Monahan has specialized in local government law as well as land use. Bill has represented local governments and private development clients before the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. He has participated in local government public hearings in a variety of capacities, including land use planner, city attorney, applicants attorney, and city manager. He has assisted municipal and special district clients by drafting ordinances, contracts, charter amendments, code revisions, and technical and legal memoranda on a variety of topics. Presently, Bill serves as a City Attorney for West Linn and Milwaukie and as legal counsel to the South Clackamas Transportation District.

Bill has previously served as Community Development Director for Tigard, and as a City Attorney for West Linn, Milwaukie, and King City from 1989-1994 before serving as City Manager for Tigard from 1994 through 2004. In addition Bill held local government positions in Massachusetts, serving as the City Planner for Brockton and as Chief Rehabilitation Officer for Brockton Redevelopment Authority.

Bill's practice and his experience as a city planner and manager bring an understanding of the Oregon land use system and procedures that aid clients in interpreting and addressing local procedures when preparing and presenting land use applications. He has represented both cities and private clients before local approval authorities as well as at the Land Use Board of Appeals and Court of Appeals. He has represented land use clients on issues such as:

• Subdivisions and partitions
• Systems development charges
• Conditional use permits
• Variances
• Non-conforming uses
• Planned developments — residential and commercial
• Negotiation of conditions of approval
• Site development reviews
• Appeals to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals and Oregon Court of Appeals

As a city attorney, Bill has provided general counsel services including specific work as follows:

• Serving as city attorney at City Council and planning commission meetings and hearings
• Training staff, appointed, and elected officials on various topics
• Preparing code revisions
• Interpreting planning and development regulations
• Public contracting
• Public records
• Conduct of internal investigations
• Negotiation and drafting of intergovernmental agreements
• Development of franchise agreements
• Drafting of personal services agreements for city managers and department heads
• Capital improvement plan development and implementation

Education and Professional Qualifications

Attended Wake Forest University, 1968 to 1969

B.A., Stonehill College, 1972

Masters, Community Planning, University of Rhode Island, 1976

J.D., Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College, 1984

Memberships and Honors

Member, Oregon State Bar

Member, International City/County Management Association, 1994 to present

Member, Oregon City/County Management Association

Former Member, American Institute of Certified Planners, 1984 to 2001

Presentations

Bill is a frequent speaker on ethics, both in Oregon and internationally. He has trained local government officials throughout the State of Oregon and has trained local government practitioners and elected officials in South Africa on topics of ethical leadership and the ways to build anti-corruption capacity. Bill has trained local government staff, planning commissions and city councils on land use hearing processes, public meeting law, and public contracting. He has also trained local government officials in Russia on economic development and provided technical assistance in local government administration in both Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Articles

Getting Involved in Urban Growth