TransNet Independent Taxpayer Oversight

TransNet Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee

The TransNet Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee (ITOC) is a group of community members appointed by SANDAG to provide an enhanced level of accountability for expenditures of TransNet funds, as outlined in the TransNet Ordinance and Expenditure Plan. The committee helps ensure that all voter mandates are carried out as required and develops recommendations for improvements to the financial integrity and performance of the program. Every year, ITOC releases an annual report of the Committee’s milestones and accomplishments.

SANDAG invites the public to share your thoughts and ideas with ITOC, so that we can continue to maintain an open dialogue for the future of San Diego region’s transportation system. Please provide feedback on our comment form.

The ITOC meetings are generally the second Wednesday of every month.

Staff contact: Zara Sadeghian, 619.595.5395, zara.sadeghian@sandag.org.

ITOC Member Application

ITOC members should consist of seven professionals in a specified area of expertise, as characterized in the ITOC Bylaws. The committee's skills and experience play a valuable and constructive role in the ongoing improvement and enhancement of the TransNet program. Applications will be requested from individuals interested in serving on the ITOC through an open, publicly noticed solicitation process. If you would like to be notified of future vacancies on ITOC, please contact zara.sadeghian@sandag.org. For comments, questions, or suggestions for the committee, please contact itoc@sandag.org.

The ITOC is accepting applications from members of the public to fill two vacancies. We are seeking:

A municipal/public finance or budgeting professional with at least 10 years of experience in a senior decision-making position.
A biology or environmental science professional with at least 10 years of experience in habitat management and expert knowledge of environmental mitigation regulations.

Applications are due April 7, 2023. For more information, please see the Solicitation of Applications for Membership on the ITOC.

Membership

The ITOC is a voting body of seven community members with qualifying expertise, as defined in the TransNet Ordinance.

Members

Jonathan Frankel, ITOC Chair (Term expires May 2024)
Jonathan is serving in the ITOC position for a professional experienced in real estate and land economics. He is currently Principal Project Manager at Atlantis Group Land Use Consultants where he manages the processing of complex entitlements for residential, mixed use, commercial, and institutional development projects throughout San Diego County.

Pedro Orso-Delgado, ITOC Vice Chair (Term expires May 2025)
Pedro is serving in the ITOC position for a professional in the management of large-scale construction projects. Mr. Orso-Delgado is the principal of his own consulting firm, Under Construction. He served in the capacity of City Manager for the City of Santee from May 2014 to July 2015 and was named the City of Santee’s Deputy City Manager/Director of Development Services in August 2009.

Dustin Fuller (Term expires May 2023)
Dustin is serving in the ITOC position for a professional in biology or environmental science with demonstrated experience in environmental regulations and major project mitigation requirements and/or habitat acquisition and management. He is a Supervising Environmental Planner with the 22nd District Agricultural Association. Dustin has more than 20 years of experience in the environmental planning field, including coordination with resource agencies, preparation of environmental documents, and permit processing.

Stewart Halpern (Term expires May 2023)
Stewart is serving in the ITOC position for a professional in the field of municipal/public finance and/or budgeting with a minimum of ten years in a relevant and senior decision-making position in the public or private sector. He has over 30 years of experience in various aspects of financial decision-making, managing external auditors, budgeting, and financial analysis.

Les Hopper (Term expires May 2024)
Les is serving in the ITOC position for a licensed engineer with appropriate credentials in the field of transportation project design or construction and a minimum of ten years of experience in a relevant and senior decision-making position in the government or private sector. Les is a Principal at Rick Engineering Company and leads the Transportation Infrastructure Practice. He has 40 years of hands-on experience in the management, planning, permitting, and design of both public and private projects from inception through construction.

Sunnie House (Term expires May 2025)
Sunnie is serving in the ITOC position for a chief executive officer or person in a similar senior-level decision-making position, of a major private sector employer with demonstrated experience in leading a large organization. She has over 23 years of experience in transportation planning, engineering, and program and construction management.

Michael Kenney (Term expires May 2026)
Michael is serving in the ITOC position for a licensed architect or civil/traffic engineer with experience in transportation and/or urban design. Michael is a Civil and Traffic Engineer with over 28 years’ experience.