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45 <br /> 1 Chair Bedford asked if there are recommended changes for the program. <br /> 2 Blake Rosser said he does not have any changes at this time. He said that more funding <br /> 3 would always be better. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 c. Draft Orange County Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Work Program for Transit <br /> 6 The Board received a report on the draft Orange County Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Work Program <br /> 7 for transit and provide comments on the Work Program. <br /> 8 BACKGROUND: In June 2024, the Orange County Staff Work Group (SWG) officially endorsed <br /> 9 the process and timeline for developing the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Annual Work Program <br /> 10 (AWP). Recognizing the importance of efficiency and alignment with key stakeholders, the SWG <br /> 11 revisited the initial schedule during its September 2024 meeting, making strategic refinements to <br /> 12 further streamline the approval process. These adjustments were designed to enhance <br /> 13 coordination among participating agencies and ensure a more structured approach to meeting <br /> 14 critical deadlines. <br /> 15 <br /> 16 Following these refinements, member jurisdictions, in close collaboration with Orange County and <br /> 17 GoTriangle, undertook a comprehensive effort to compile and submit all necessary materials. This <br /> 18 collaborative approach facilitated smooth and timely preparation of the draft AWP, enabling its <br /> 19 completion ahead of the holiday season. By proactively addressing potential bottlenecks and <br /> 20 ensuring thorough documentation, stakeholders successfully laid the groundwork for a well- <br /> 21 organized and effective annual transit tax budget for FY26. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 The Draft FY26 AWP (Attachment 1) has been carefully prepared by Orange County, in its role <br /> 24 as SWG administrator, through a thorough and collaborative process over the past several <br /> 25 months. The draft has been publicly reviewed and deliberated during the December 2024 and <br /> 26 January 2025 SWG meetings, ensuring transparency and alignment with the priorities of all <br /> 27 stakeholders. Every project request has been thoughtfully considered and incorporated, and the <br /> 28 financial model remains stable and sustainable, fully adhering to approved governing documents, <br /> 29 including global agreements. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 After two (2) months of dedicated effort and extensive coordination, County staff is confident that <br /> 32 the Draft FY26 AWP is comprehensive, fiscally responsible, and ready for public review. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Next steps per the approved schedule: <br /> 35 • Finalize Annual Work Program - February 28, 2025 <br /> 36 • SWG — Recommend Approval - March 19, 2025 <br /> 37 • BOCC— Public Hearing and Approval - April 16, 2025 <br /> 38 • GoTriangle —Approval - June 17, 2025 <br /> 39 <br /> 40 The FY26 Annual Work Program will come back to Board of County Commissioners for a public <br /> 41 hearing and action at the April 16, 2025, Business meeting per the approved schedule. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Nishith Trivedi, Transportation Director, introduced the item and made the following <br /> 44 presentation: <br /> 45 <br /> 46 <br />