TransNet Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 9:30 A.m. - 11:30 A.m.

SANDAG Boardroom

1011 Union Street, First Floor

San Diego, CA 92101

Voting Members Present:

• Chair Frank Rivera (Licensed Civil/Traffic Engineer)
• Vice Chair Sunnie House (Private Sector/CEO)
• Lorraine Ahlquist (Biology/Environmental Science)
• Jacqueline Appleton-Deane (Contractor/Construction)
• Maryam Babaki (Municipal/Public Finance and Budgeting)
• David Santistevan (Real Estate/Land Economics/Right-of-Way)

Others Present:

• Tracy Drager (San Diego County Auditor’s Office)

 

Meeting Video

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1.

Call to Order

Chair Rivera called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

2.

Non-Agenda Public Comments/Member Comments

Public Comments: Purita Javier, Cesar Javier. 

Member Comments: None. 

Chief Executive Officer Mario Orso presented an update on agency activities. 

3.

Consent

• Motioned by: Chair Rivera
  Seconded by: Lorraine Ahlquist

  to approve Consent Agenda Item Nos. 3.1 and 3.2. 

  For (6)

  Maryam Babaki, Chair Rivera, Jacqueline Appleton-Deane, Lorraine Ahlquist, Vice Chair House, and David Santistevan

  The motion passed. (6 to 0)

3.1

Approval of Meeting Minutes

Approved the minutes from its November 12, 2025, meeting.

3.2

TransNet ITOC Member Reappointment and Appointment Process

This report provided an overview of the reappointment process for Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee members as well as the solicitation and appointment process for new members. This item was presented for information only. 

5.

TransNet Triennial Performance Audit: Completion Recommendations

Public Comments: Cesar Javier. 

• Motioned by: Vice Chair House
  Seconded by: Maryam Babaki

  to approve eight TransNet Triennial Performance Audit Completion Forms. 

  For (6)

  Maryam Babaki, Chair Rivera, Jacqueline Appleton-Deane, Lorraine Ahlquist, Vice Chair House, and David Santistevan

  The motion passed. (6 to 0)

4.

Appointment of Subcommittee Member for TransNet Triennial Performance Audit

Public Comments: Cesar Javier. 

• Motioned by: Chair Rivera
  Seconded by: Maryam Babaki

  to appoint Sunnie House, Jacqueline Appleton-Deane, and Tracy Drager to the TransNet Triennial Performance Audit Subcommittee. 

  For (6)

  Maryam Babaki, Chair Rivera, Jacqueline Appleton-Deane, Lorraine Ahlquist, Vice Chair House, and David Santistevan

  The motion passed. (6 to 0)

6.

TransNet Proposed 2026 Bond Issuance: Refunding Overview

Public Comments: Cesar Javier. 

Chief Financial Officer Dawn Vettese presented an overview of the proposed 2026 bond issuance. This item was presented for information only. 

7.

Adjournment

Chair Rivera adjourned the meeting at 10:55 a.m.