By Mayor Charles McNeilly
Welcome to my City of Rockaway Beach Monthly Update with a look back at the month of October 2025.
The 24-hour / 7-day short-term rental (STR) Complaint Hotline is now live. The hotline – (971) 351-0529 – supports community compliance by making it easy for residents to report STRs that may not be following the rules. By monitoring together, we help the City of Rockaway Beach ensure fairness, protect neighborhood integrity, and keep our community safe, respectful, and welcoming for everyone. Residents can call or fill out an online form (city website) that are both answered and monitored 24/7. Repeated violations of the Short-Term Rental ordinance will result in penalties up to and including revocation of the permit for 12 months. Rockaway Beach contracted with a third party who specializes in short-term rental compliance to provide the hot line and reporting.
To learn more about the Complaint Hotline read the FAQ on our city website.
The city has 488 active/approved STRs. This represents 68 STRs over our current cap of 420. We have 106 licensed STRs that show no rental activity. Overall rental data show that we have more available capacity among our STRs than is being utilized, even during peak vacation seasons. We do have 47 STRs operating without a license. The city will address these illegal STRs soon.
A food donation box for non-perishable items will soon be placed at City Hall by a local group who manages the Tillamook County Food Security Project page on Facebook. The page is designed as a resource to provide folks in need with information on where they can find food assistance in the community. You may bring your donations by City Hall during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The N. Pacific Street Capital Project is progressing on schedule, and the use of native sand as backfill has resulted in cost savings. To date, coordination between the contractor and the city has been excellent. The water main was installed from N. 5th to N. 9th. The next steps include water service installations, which are expected to take around two weeks, followed by main testing over the course of about one week. The new water system will be put into service after all tests are successfully completed. The sewer portion of the project is nearly finished, with several lateral lines remaining.
A citywide leak detection survey has been completed (apart from Nedonna Ave, Beach Dr, and N. Pacific 5th–9th, which are slated for replacement). Major leaks were addressed at Park & Nedonna, Geneva & Park, Geneva & Sunset, Quadrant & S. 2nd, and a residence on Alder, and several failed valves have been replaced. One hydrant leak and multiple meter-gasket leaks have been identified and repaired. Notably, the project is currently running substantially under budget, thanks to careful planning and efficient coordination between staff and contractors. This achievement is especially important as the project is being funded through grants, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are maximized and the city’s infrastructure receives much-needed upgrades without additional financial burden on residents.
The Fire Department’s Trunk or Treat was delayed due to inclement weather, and a modified Trunk or Treat was held on October 31st in the Anchor Street parking lot. It was a windy, rainy, and joyous experience for all who participated. Who doesn’t like seeing the kids (and adults) in costume and giving out candy?
Nan Devlin, Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA), is rolling out short reels on Visit Rockaway Beach Facebook site featuring interviews with business owners in Rockaway Beach. The first four are complete: Joe’s Snacks with Debra Reeves, Green Coast Market with the Maxfields, Oregon Du Drops with the Du Boises and Troxel’s Gem & Jewelry with the Troxels. A shout out to Debra Reeves for suggesting this project and Nan for delivering. Investments like this with TCVA are yielding positive results for our STR owners and local businesses. According to our Financial Director’s quarterly report, TRT revenue for Q2 2025 rose by 9% compared to the same period last year.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported that the double no pass north of Rockaway to N. 7th was completed by the ODOT striping team. Two thumbs up to ODOT for responding to our residents’ request.
Returning this year is the Rockaway Beach Fire & Rescue Holiday Bazaar on Friday, November 28th (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Saturday, November 29th (10 am to 5 pm) and Sunday, November 30th (12 noon to 4 p.m.) at City Hall. The Bazaar is generously assisted by Go Rockaway.
CITY HALL
The 1st Quarter Financial Report for FY 2025–26 shows the City remains in a strong overall financial position.
City Manager Shepard attended the Oregon Association of Water Utilities (OAWU) conference, where he met with utility system managers and learned about upcoming regulatory changes. OAWU announced plans to open a new training center at their headquarters in Independence. The facility will offer programs to train and certify new operators, addressing a current need in the water and sewer industry.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Fire Chief Hesse is excited to announce that Firefighter Boos has successfully passed his National Registry exam and is now an EMT-Advanced. This adds to our capabilities on medical calls for service. The Department now has 1-Paramedic, 1-Intermediate, 2-EMT-Advanced, 7-EMT’s and 2-EMR’s.
Firefighter/EMT Venezia and Boos attended the Oregon EMS conference in Wilsonville. This was a wonderful opportunity for continuing education and networking with the newest in Emergency Medicine for the well-being of our residents.
The Fire Department (FD) acquired a new lifting device “The Inva-lift 500”. The device is designed to lift someone who falls, is not injured but cannot get up on their own. The device can lift a 500-pound patient and will be helpful in reducing back injury and strain from lifting patients. Rockaway is proud to announce that Rockaway Beach Fire Rescue is the first FD in the United States to take delivery and place the unit in service.
This week, the FD submitted the final documentation to ISO for re-rating. The ISO representative will review the data and total points. A response is expected by the end of December. Due to the addition of a new ladder truck, full-time FD staffing, and water system upgrades, a higher score than the previous rating is anticipated. An improved score may result in lower homeowner insurance requirements in Rockaway Beach, which could reduce our personal fire insurance premiums.
The FD is looking into a voluntary KNOX box program. KNOX supplies lock boxes that are used by commercial businesses and schools to store keys to the facility. The FD is the only entity to have access to the box. The program allows the FD to enter a building without damaging doors and windows. The KNOX system is a secure rapid entry solution designed to help emergency responders access buildings quickly during an emergency, such as a fire or medical call, even when no staff are present. Each KNOX box is mounted near a building’s main entrance and contains keys or access cards for the property, protected by a heavy-duty, tamper-resistant enclosure. Only authorized FD personnel can open the box using a unique master key, which is strictly controlled and tracked. This system reduces response time, minimizes property damage, and enhances safety for both occupants and responders. Many insurance companies recognize the value of the KNOX program and may offer incentives or reduced premiums for participating businesses.
Friday, October 31st was the last day that our seasonal staff was on duty. The FD has had an extremely busy summer season, and we want to extend our deepest thanks and sincere appreciation to our summer staff for their outstanding dedication, positive attitude, and tireless efforts in meeting the increased demands for services. Shawna and Fjara consistently went above and beyond, showing professionalism and a strong commitment to our community. Their contributions have made a meaningful difference, and we are truly grateful for all they have done. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors and hope to see them return next season!
Chief Hesse and Captain Grace surveyed the evacuation routes in case of a disaster. The routes were identified and signage of the routes evaluated. A needs list to complete clear evacuation paths was developed. County Emergency Management and Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) were contacted and signs ordered. The first of the signs have been delivered and staff will be working on placing the signs on a priority basis.
The Fire Department participated in the Great Oregon Shakeout. The department placed members at the evacuation sites to track numbers of participants and provide information and answer questions from citizens. Approximately 50 citizens participated citywide. Nedonna Beach also coordinated efforts and ran an exercise with Emergency Management. We also tested our communication abilities and transmitted our data of participation to County Emergency Management by use of our solar powered portable radio system. We also tested our ability to send a NIXLE alert. If anyone still needs to sign up for Nixle simply text: RockawayOR to the number: 888777.
The Quarterly Emergency Preparedness meeting will be held Next Wednesday November 5th at 6:00 pm downstairs at city hall. We have guest Speakers from Oregon Office of Resiliency and Emergency Management (OREM). OREM will show a one-hour documentary titled Rumblings, which is a look at the potential of the Cascadia event. Following the documentary, OREM will answer questions on how to prepare for the event. This is a great opportunity to get information and advice from the experts.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Planner Tapia is currently addressing over 50 planning inquiries along with three zoning permit applications. Under the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) Technical Assistance Grant, the County and Cities are defining their roles and timelines for deliverables. We await DLCD’s assignment of a consultant to work with the County on the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA). We are also waiting for DLCD to assign a consultant to collaborate with planning staff on housing-related amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan. Meanwhile, staff are strategizing potential integrated approaches for updating both documents.
The City Council’s decision regarding the case remanded by LUBA was finalized on October 7, 2025. All parties involved have been duly notified. Nedonna Development LLC has submitted a notice of intent to appeal Remand 25-1 to the Land Use Board of Appeals. This initiates a 21-day period for record preparation, which Planner Tapia will manage. City staff and attorneys will continue to monitor this appeal process, and updates will be provided.
The DLCD sent an email about the National Flood Insurance Program. Due to the federal shutdown, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) lapsed on September 30, 2025. As a result, homeowners are unable to purchase new NFIP flood insurance policies or renew existing ones. Many of our property owners receive flood coverage through this program. There is nothing we can do at this time, additional information can be found here.
The city received unexpected and positive news: the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) has awarded its Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) Housing Planning Assistance grant to the City of Rockaway Beach. City Planner Tapia previously reported on applying for two DLCD grants, noting that this particular grant had a limited chance of approval. The HAPO grant will offer the city technical assistance through a consultant. This newly awarded grant will focus on updating our zoning code relating to residential development, as well as any corresponding comprehensive plan amendments that may arise. This represents only the initial step in a multi-year effort as we pursue comprehensive updates to our development codes. Nice job City Planner Tapia!
The Tillamook County Department of Community Development has approved the Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) required for the City to secure its Clean Water State Revolving Fund award for the acquisition of the lower half of the Jetty Creek Watershed. With the Land Use Compatibility Statement now approved, we anticipate receiving the final funding package from the state by year’s end. We would like to express our appreciation to the Tillamook County Department of Community Development for their swift processing of the LUCS application.
PLANNING COMMISSION
Planning Commission did not meet in October.
If any of the Planning Commission activities are of interest, you can read the meeting materials and view recordings of all Planning Commission meetings on the City Website.
PUBLIC WORKS
As we enter the fall season, this is the time of year when Public Works shifts its focus to preparing for winter weather and ensuring the city’s infrastructure is ready for the challenges ahead. Storm preparation was completed, including brush cutting on Sheldon Lane and culvert checks and clearing. City crews addressed drainage at Rock Creek and Lake Lytle. Generators across the city were tested and found to be operational. Ditch maintenance continued on S. Beacon between S. 2nd and S. 4th, and potholes were filled on NE 12th, 13th, and Miller. Coordination with Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad helped remove an uneven road surface over the railroad crossing at N. 3rd and N. 13th.
Two new manholes, one cleanout, and three new services were installed on N. Pacific between N. 3rd and N. 4th to support the capital project. Staff cleared a sewer plug at Nehalem & Coral and grease removal was performed at the sewer lift stations on N. 4th and N. 12th.
The Water Plant recently saw the installation of a Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) meter for monitoring turbidity. In addition, staff replaced the chlorine lines, check valves, and pressure relief valves. Preparations are underway for the 2025 Water System Site Survey, though the exact date is still pending. Both the Water Use Report and the Ocean Outfall Report are due by December 31st.
At the Sewer Plant, new tubing has been installed for the samplers. Staff members are now preparing for demolition work associated with the Master Plan project to replace various pumping equipment, which is scheduled for this fiscal year. Additionally, ongoing monitoring of the new demonstration disinfectant meters continues in order to improve disinfection analysis.
For Streets and Right-of-Way (ROW), the team removed a hazardous hanging tree located at 280 S. Easy St. Following a customer complaint, trees at Stark and Dolphin St. were inspected for decay, but no signs of decay were found.
Public Works staffers Mitch and Logan attended training classes on October 14th and 15th, and Superintendent Emerson attended certification review classes in Salem on the 16th for water treatment.
CITY COUNCIL
A countywide internet outage impacted our October Council meetings due to the fire on a railroad trestle. We held the Workshop and opened and closed the Regular Meeting long enough to explain the situation and then held the Executive Session.
If any of the Council activities are of interest, you can read the meeting materials and view recordings of all Council meetings (except Executive Sessions) on the City Council page.
ADVISORY COMMITTEES
The Forest Stewardship Plan Advisory Committee (FSPAC) convened at Rockaway Beach City Hall in October. The meeting was led by Committee Chair Jason Maxfield. Public comment was accepted through written submissions, in-person sign-ups, and the Zoom “raise hand” feature. The committee and attendees were introduced to the Springboard Forestry staff, who delivered a presentation. The committee discussed terminology for referring to the proposed acquisition, specifically “City of Rockaway Beach’s fee simple ownership in the Jetty Creek Watershed.” Members reviewed the draft purpose and goals of the first FSPAC meeting, examined proposed policy categories, and reviewed management zones. The next steps were outlined for future committee work. Committee members provided comments before the meeting was adjourned. If you’d like to watch the recording or view the meeting documents, you can do so here: Advisory Committees – City of Rockaway Beach
The Sourcewater Protection Plan Advisory Committee completed their work earlier this year. Here is link to the electronic version of the final Source Water Protection Plan if you would like to review it. The Staff at GSI Water Resources said that they really enjoyed working with us and to please let them know if Rockaway Beach would like any assistance in the future with our source water protection activities.
TILLAMOOK COAST VISITORS ASSOCIATION (TCVA)
As part of KATU’s Fall Destinations series Nan Devlin arranged for me to be interviewed for television broadcast on ARC PDX, AM Northwest and Afternoon Live. Opportunities like this to share all that is wonderful about Rockaway Beach are far and away my favorite activity as mayor. I wouldn’t have these opportunities if we didn’t have such an awesome community. My thanks and gratitude to our business owners, residents, Councilors, Leadership and staff that work collaboratively to create a welcoming and vibrant community. As I have said before, it is a great time to be Mayor of Rockaway Beach. Here are links to two of the interviews: Fall Destinations Week: Rockaway Beach. and Fall Destinations Week: Rockaway Beach, Oregon!
Recap of the KATU Fall Destinations promotion:
TV Interviews: 30 minutes total on October 6th
AM Northwest Segment: Live in-studio interview with Helen Raptis
Afternoon Live Segment: Segment interview with Hannah Olsen
ARC Interview: Interview on KUNP with Wesleigh Ogle
October 17th-19th Rockaway Beach highlighted in the KATU Things 2 Do segment –
KATU Friday Evening News, KATU Saturday Morning News, Sunday Morning News – 90 second feature each day, 4.5 minutes in total!
Dates: September 22-October 12, 2025
Total Placements: 108,000 placements
Including Added Value Messages: 30,000 added value placements
Messages aired in KATU Morning News, Good Morning America,
AM Northwest, Afternoon Live, ABC Daytime rotation and KATU Evening News.
KATU.com online
AM Northwest page – Fall Destinations
Afternoon Live page – Fall Destinations
KATU online campaign
Dates: September 22-October 13, 2025
Impressions: 100,014
Clicks: 196
Click thru rate: .20%
KATU.com and Social pages
“Fall fun and food await visitors at welcoming Rockaway Beach”
Fall destination week – posted on AM Northwest social
KEY DATES IN NOVEMBER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Rockaway Beach Emergency Preparedness presents the documentary film Rumblings: Preparing for Cascadia with the Oregon Office of Resilience and Emergency Management on Wednesday, November 5th at 6:00 pm in the City Hall Council Room.
The City Council Workshop is on Wednesday, November 12th at 4:30 pm in the City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room followed by the City Council Regular Meeting at 6:00 pm downstairs in the City Hall Council Room.
Forest Stewardship Plan Advisory Committee is on Thursday, November 13th at 2:00 pm in the City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room.
The Planning Commission is on Thursday, November 20th at 5:00 pm in the City Hall Council Room.
We offer in-person and virtual options for attending all our meetings. Meetings are recorded so they are available for viewing at your convenience. Agendas and packets are available on our city website. Sign up for our city email list on our city website to have meeting packets sent to you automatically.
The Coffee with Mayor and City Manager is Thursday, November 20th at 9:00 am in the City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room.
PLEASE STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED!
The most efficient way to keep up to date with your city government is to add your email address to the City’s email list through the City’s website, at the bottom of the landing page.
If you have ideas to share; questions or concerns about what is going on in the City of Rockaway Beach, please email me at cmcneilly@corb.us.
I am still listening.