OCTA Seeks Applicants For Measure M Taxpayers Oversight Committee (2009)

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the Measure M Taxpayers Oversight Committee (TOC).

The independent committee was formed after the 1990 passage of Measure M, a half-cent sales tax to fund transportation improvements in Orange County. The eleven-member committee monitors OCTA’s use of Measure M funds and ensures that all revenue collected from Measure M is spent on voter-approved transportation projects.

Committee members also are responsible for approving changes to the Measure M Traffic Improvement and Growth Management Plan, which determines how the funds are allocated. The committee also holds annual public hearings on the status of Measure M funds and may request independent audits of any issues involving Measure M projects.

Applications for the 2009-2012 term will be accepted through May 1 to fill four seats, one each in the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth supervisorial districts. Orange County residents in the following areas are eligible to apply:

First District – Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Westminster
Second District – Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Stanton, Cypress, La Palma, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach
Fourth District – Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra and Placentia
Fifth District – Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Candidates must be at least 18 and willing to participate for a three-year term. Applicants also should demonstrate a history of participating in community activities, ideally with emphasis on transportation-related activities.

The committee meets the second Tuesday of every other month at 6 p.m. at OCTA, 600 S. Main St. in Orange. This is a volunteer position and no stipends are paid to members.

The Grand Jurors Association of Orange County is conducting the recruitment program and will screen all applications and recommend qualified candidates for membership.

For information or an application, call (714) 970-9329 or visit www.octa.net/toc.