Orange County Transportation Authority

Legislative and Communications Committee Agenda

Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Board Room, 550 South Main Street, Orange, California

Committee Members

Donald P. Wagner, Chair

Katrina Foley, Vice Chair

Michael Hennessey

Fred Jung

Janet Nguyen

Mark Tettemer

Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate

in this meeting should contact the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Clerk of the

Board's office at (714) 560-5676, no less than two business days prior to this meeting to enable

OCTA to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to this meeting.

Agenda Descriptions

Agenda descriptions are intended to give members of the public a general summary of items of

business to be transacted or discussed. The posting of the recommended actions does not

indicate what action will be taken. The Committee may take any action which it deems to be

appropriate on the agenda item and is not limited in any way by the notice of the recommended

action.

Public Availability of Agenda Materials

All documents relative to the items referenced in this agenda are available for public inspection at

www.octa.net or through the Clerk of the Board’s office at the OCTA Headquarters, 600 South

Main Street, Orange, California.

Meeting Access and Public Comments on Agenda Items

Members of the public can either attend in-person or access live streaming of the Committee

meetings by clicking this link: https://octa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

In-Person Comment

Members of the public may attend in-person and address the Board regarding any item within the

subject matter jurisdiction of the Orange County Transportation Authority. Please complete a

speaker’s card and submit it to the Clerk of the Board and notify the Clerk regarding the agenda

item number on which you wish to speak. Speakers will be recognized by the Chair at the time of

the agenda item is to be considered by the Board. Comments will be limited to three minutes. The

Brown Act prohibits the Board from either discussing or taking action on any non-agendized

items.

Written Comment

Written public comments may also be submitted by emailing them to ClerkOffice@octa.net, and

must be sent by 5:00 p.m. the day prior to the meeting. If you wish to comment on a specific

agenda Item, please identify the Item number in your email. All public comments that are timely

received will be part of the public record and distributed to the Board. Public comments will be

made available to the public upon request.

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Director Hennessey

Closed Session

There are no Closed Session items scheduled.

Special Calendar

Washington D.C. Advocate Presentation

Kristin Jacinto

Overview

The Orange County Transportation Authority’s lead federal legislative advocate, Rick

Alcalde, and principal legislative advocate, Dan Feliz, of Potomac Partners DC, will

provide an overview of proposed transportation-related policies and funding discussions

by the Administration and the 119th Congress, strategies for positioning the Orange

County Transportation Authority and an outlook on future items of interest.

Conference Call with State Legislative Advocate Moira Topp

Moira Topp/Kristin Jacinto

Overview

An update of legislative items in Sacramento will be provided.

Committee Meeting 2025 Schedule

Donald P. Wagner

Overview

Committee Chair Wagner will lead a discussion regarding the 2025 meeting schedule for

the Legislative and Communications Committee.

Recommendation(s)

Approve the 2025 Legislative and Communications Committee meeting calendar.

Attachments:

Calendar

Roles and Responsibilities of the Legislative and Communications Committee

Darrell E. Johnson

Overview

Roles and responsibilities for the Legislative and Communications Committee are

reviewed periodically for any appropriate changes or additions.

Recommendation(s)

Approve

the

2025 Legislative

and

Communications

Committee

Roles

and

Responsibilities.

Attachments:

Roles and Responsibilities

Consent Calendar (Item 5)

All items on the Consent Calendar are to be approved in one motion unless a Committee

Member or a member of the public requests separate action or discussion on a specific item.

Approval of Minutes

Clerk of the Board

Recommendation

Approve the minutes of the November 21, 2024 Legislative and Communications

Committee meeting.

Attachments:

Minutes

Regular Calendar

State Legislative Status Report

Clara Brotcke/Kristin Jacinto

Overview

The Orange County Transportation Authority provides regular updates to the Legislative

and Communications Committee on policy issues directly impacting its overall programs,

projects, and operations. Staff recommend supporting two legislative proposals, one

addressing emergency permitting in the coastal zone and the other extending the sales tax

exemption for zero-emission transit bus purchases. An update is provided on the renewal

of the Senate Transportation Committee Subcommittee on Los Angeles - San Diego - San

Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Resiliency. Finally, this report includes a summary of a hearing

discussing transportation funding sustainability in California.

Recommendation(s)

Adopt a SUPPORT position on SB 741 (Blakespear, D-Encinitas), which would

clarify that a local emergency declared by a municipality, county, or special district

qualifies as an emergency for coastal development permits.

Adopt a SUPPORT position on SB 752 (Richardson, D-Inglewood), which would

extend the sunset date on the sales tax exemption for the purchase of

zero-emission transit buses.

Attachments:

Federal Legislative Status Report

Alexis Carter/Kristin Jacinto

Overview

The Orange County Transportation Authority regularly updates the Legislative and

Communications Committee on policy and regulatory issues directly impacting the

agency’s programs, projects, and operations. A recommendation is made to approve a

set of principles to guide the Orange County Transportation Authority’s advocacy efforts

related to reauthorization of the surface transportation bill. An update is provided on budget

reconciliation, negotiations, spending and a summary is given on the President’s recent

address to Congress.

Recommendation(s)

Adopt the proposed Principles for Surface Transportation Reauthorization Legislation and

direct staff to take necessary and appropriate actions in furtherance of these goals in

Washington, D.C.

Attachments:

Staff Report

Attachment A

Attachment B

Agreement for Public Outreach Services for the Interstate 5 Improvement Project

from Interstate 405 to State Route 55

Nicolette Wright/Maggie McJilton

Overview

On October 14, 2024, the Orange County Transportation Authority released a request for

proposals for public outreach consulting services during the pre-construction and

construction phases of the Interstate 5 Improvement Project from Interstate 405 to State

Route 55. Board of Directors’ approval is requested to execute an agreement for these

services.

Recommendation(s)

Approve the selection of Kleinfelder Construction Services, Inc., as the firm to

provide public outreach consultant services for the Interstate 5 Improvement Project

from Interstate 405 to State Route 55.

Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute Agreement No. C-4-

2488 between the Orange County Transportation Authority and Kleinfelder

Construction Services, Inc., in the amount of $1,199,260, for a six-year initial term

with an option term of up to 24 months, to provide public outreach consultant

services for the Interstate 5 Improvement Project from Interstate 405 to State Route

55.