By Mayor Charles McNeilly
Welcome to my City of Rockaway Beach Monthly Update with a look back at the month of August 2026. This month brought progress on several important projects, from infrastructure and emergency preparedness to long-term planning initiatives. None of this work happens without the dedication of our staff, volunteers, community partners, and engaged residents. Thank you for helping make Rockaway Beach such a special place to live, work, and visit.
Key Updates
- Firefighter Boos safely completed deployment to Central Oregon wildfire response operations as part of a State Fire Marshal task force focused on structure protection. His assignment was part of a broader Tillamook County response, which included multiple apparatus and firefighters supporting wildfire operations across the state during a period of critically hot and dry conditions.
- City Council approved the purchase of property from Tillamook PUD to support Fire Department emergency preparedness and resiliency hub storage needs.
- Work is underway to update the City’s procurement ordinance for the first time in approximately 20 years.
- The Jetty Creek Watershed acquisition remains on schedule, with closing anticipated by the end of the year.
- Fire Department crews conducted joint training with the Garibaldi Fire Department, focusing on boat fires, water-supply operations, and coordinated emergency response.
- Fifty new GMRS radios were purchased to strengthen the City’s emergency communications network.
- A planning internship program launched with University of Oregon students assisting with land-use permitting guides, FAQs, and website improvements.
- Public Works put the new sewer camera van into service, helping identify infrastructure needs ahead of future paving projects.
- The Nedonna Beach waterline project is wrapping up soon, with additional water line replacements added to maximize project value.
- Lake Lytle restroom and parking improvements could break ground soon, while staff pursue partnerships to address invasive species concerns.
- Planning Commission advanced Flood Hazard Overlay Zone updates to support floodplain management and National Flood Insurance Program compliance.
The Huecha Omeyocan held their annual Blessing of the Waters and cultural event in Rockaway Beach this year. They held the event at Neah-Kah-Nie High School after spending the past nine years at Cape Lookout State Park, which was under construction this year. Several local groups helped bring the event to Rockaway Beach: NCAM helped coordinate the move, the school district provided the space, and the Rockaway Beach Fire Department supported water and beach safety, as well as safe Highway 101 crossings. It was a life affirming event, and I hope we can welcome them back next year.
Photo Credit: Don Backman
CITY HALL
The City is working on updates to the City’s procurement ordinance. City Manager Shepard told me it has been 20 years since the last update and much has changed since then. Director Mertz and City Manager Shepard have started working with Local Government Law Group to review the current code and draft proposed updates. It is another one of those important housekeeping projects that is not flashy but will help make sure our policies are current and work well for our city, our staff, and contractors. We plan to discuss at the September Council workshop and get Council’s thoughts as city leaders work through the proposed changes.
The title review period for the Jetty Creek Watershed acquisition has now closed. Our funding partners are currently reviewing the title analysis as part of their due diligence process. Next steps include:
- working through the land partition process
- submitting a partial grant reimbursement request to Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) for all non-acquisition related costs and
- preparation of escrow instructions by OWEB and Department of Environmental Quality.
The acquisition remains on schedule for closing by the end of the year.
Thank you to Councilors McGinnis, Cheek, and Ryan for attending the August League of Oregon City’s (LOC) quarterly Small Cities meeting in Bay City. Also, in attendance was Planning Commission President Hasell. It is a gift to work with such engaged City officials! I attended the Oregon Mayors Association Annual Conference.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Chief Hesse, Finance Director Johnston, and City Manager Shepard met with the Nedonna Beach Rural Fire District and a representative from the Special Districts Association of Oregon. We discussed the new intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for fire service previously workshopped with the City Council and finalized the remaining steps needed to execute the agreement and support the Nedonna Beach Rural Fire District’s outreach efforts moving forward. The city fire department also serves the Twin Rocks Fire District.
Our Fire Department conducted a joint training exercise with the Garibaldi Fire Department in August. The training focused on boat fires and water-supply operations in support of fire response at the Port of Garibaldi. This drill reinforced the importance of teamwork, coordination, and continued practice in achieving successful emergency-response outcomes. They also conducted a drill focused on initial operations at a structure fire, including hydrant use and stretching multiple hose lines.
Chief Hesse reports that summer activity remains steady as visitors continue traveling to the coast. The department and summer staff are meeting current service demands, and call volume remains consistent. Chief is pleased to report that no major incidents or injuries have occurred. The new signage and daily beach patrols have been effective in reducing beach fires and water rescues. The Fire Department also worked closely with Oregon State Parks in responding to unattended beach fires. This strong partnership and clear communication have helped reduce the overall workload.
The Fire Department ordered fifty new General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios for our Emergency Radio Communication Group. These are new generation 10-watt radios and should improve the Emergency Communication System in Rockaway Beach. Special thanks to Barb Riley and Jon Orloff for assisting with programing the radios and instructing the class. Anyone who is interested in joining the group please contact Captain Grace or Chief Hesse for more information. You can call City Hall to be put in touch with the Fire Department.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Our Planning Internship began with a kickoff meeting in late August. The Planning internship program provides students and aspiring planners to receive on-the-job experience. Two University of Oregon Students are working with staff to help produce community-facing documents, such as FAQ’s, permitting guides, and general updates to the Planning Department’s website. The goal is to facilitate the permitting process and provide useful information to residents and builders.
PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works crew put the City’s new sewer camera van into service for the first time. The crew conducted a sewer line inspection in the Pacific View Estates neighborhood to identify any issues that should be addressed this winter, prior to paving work on Capital Improvement Projects P1-3 next spring (North Pacific Street between North 3rd Avenue and NW 9th Avenue; South Pacific Street between South 3rd Avenue and South 4th Avenue; South Crest Terrace and South Terrace Drive northwest to the end). During the inspection, staff identified two offsets in the sewer main. The crew is now evaluating the condition of these locations and determining whether the repairs can be completed in-house or if a specialized contractor is required. The new camera van performed great, and the crew was excited to finally put this important piece of equipment to use. The ability to proactively inspect and identify infrastructure needs allows us to make informed decisions, improve system reliability, and better coordinate maintenance activities with upcoming capital projects.
In a fortunate turn of events, our Nedonna Beach Project contractor’s schedule changed, allowing their crew to remain on site and continue making progress on the project. With the contractor already mobilized, work is now moving forward on the connection to the new water line on Nedonna Avenue. Crews have also begun replacing water lines in the cross streets of Western, Park, and Riley. These streets were added to the project as a change order, allowing the City to replace additional aging asbestos concrete water main while the contractor is in the area. This opportunity has allowed us to maximize the value of the project and make infrastructure improvements with minimal disruption. City anticipates that the remaining water line improvements will be completed by mid-September. We appreciate the community’s patience as this work continues and look forward to completing these important upgrades to improve system reliability for years to come.
The pre-construction meeting for the Lake Lytle Restroom and Parking Improvement Project is scheduled. Following that meeting, the contractor anticipates beginning demolition of the existing vault toilet immediately so construction activities can get underway. To maintain restroom access for visitors during construction, Public Works staff have arranged for a portable restroom to be placed at the boat launch property for the duration of the project. Due to a manufacturing delay, Romtec is currently scheduled to deliver and install the new restroom facility in November. Despite this delay, the project will continue moving forward with site work and other improvements while we await installation of the new restrooms. Thank you, Tillamook County, for leasing this property to the City!
Here is a rendering of the finished restroom facilities.
Public Works Director Mertz recently met with Claudine Rehn, Executive Director, and Allyson Gardner, Development Director, of Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) to discuss a partnership focused on community engagement, technical analysis, and treatment recommendations regarding invasive species at Lake Lytle. Staff are currently working with TEP to develop a scope of work and contract to support this work. A special thank you goes out to Bill Hassell for providing a photographic history documenting the spread of invasive species within Lake Lytle and Crescent Lake. This valuable historical information will assist TEP’s research team as they evaluate the issue and develop recommendations for future management strategies. In addition to the Lake Lytle discussion, City and TEP representatives explored other opportunities for collaboration. Topics included the potential for monitoring efforts in Jetty Creek and utilizing TEP’s new laboratory facility for water quality testing. These partnerships could provide valuable resources to help the City better understand and manage local environmental conditions while strengthening regional collaboration through shared resources.
Public Works Director Mertz joined representatives from the North Coast Land Conservancy for a roads review of the Jetty Creek property, comparing field conditions with the property’s title report. The good news: they found no discrepancies or issues requiring further action. The most exciting part of the visit was seeing some of the potential new viewpoints that could become accessible to residents and visitors once the trails are completed and the roads are brushed out. In one direction, visitors will be able to see the jetty, where the Pacific Ocean meets the mouth of the Nehalem River. To the north, they may see views of Nehalem Bay, Nehalem Bay State Park, and Neahkahnie Mountain, just to name a few.
Public Works remains busy maintaining and enhancing our infrastructure and parks. I received four pages documenting their activity in August.
CITY COUNCIL
The August City Council Workshop covered the following topics:
- Update to Regional Water Plan
- Review Proposed 2027 Community Grant Program Schedule and Policy
- League of Oregon Legislative Priorities Ranking
The August City Council Regular Meeting covered the following topics:
- Presentation – State of the City Address, Mayor Charles McNeilly
- Consideration to Adopt Ordinance No 2026-06: An Ordinance Approving a Franchise Agreement with Hunter Communications for Communications Services (approved)
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-32: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Purchase of Certain Real Property in the City and All Necessary Steps to Acquire Property (approved)
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-33: A Resolution Supporting Participation in the North Tillamook County Water Regionalization Initiative (approved)
If any of the Council activities listed for August are of interest, you can read the meeting materials and view recordings of all Council meetings (except Executive Sessions) on the city website Rockaway Beach Meeting Agendas & Minutes page.
PLANNING COMMISSION
Our Planning Commission continued its productive year last month by advancing another strategic plan priority: updating policies related to the Flood Hazard Overlay Zone. The Commission held the first evidentiary hearing on proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance provisions for the zone. These updates are part of the strategic plan and support compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. The Commission recommended the staff-proposed changes. The ordinance is expected to come before the City Council in September. It is encouraging to see continued progress on the community’s priorities. City Planner Abram Tapia put substantial effort into this update and deserves recognition for this work, as well as for the many other projects he is managing at the same time.
If any of the Planning Commission activities listed for August are of interest, you can read the meeting materials and view recordings of all Planning Commission meetings on the city website Rockaway Beach Meeting Agendas & Minutes page.
RURAL TOURISM PARTNERS
An accessibility link is now available on the landing page of our visitor website. This page highlights many of the City’s recent efforts to make Rockaway Beach more accessible and welcoming to all who visit. These include our designation as an accessibility-verified location by Wheel the World, the beach wheelchairs available at Troxel’s Gem and Jewelry Store, the popular David’s Chair at St. Mary by the Sea Catholic Church, the newly constructed pathway to the beach at the Wayside, our new ADA-friendly playground at Anchor Street, and, of course, the Boardwalk. One of the goals in our strategic plan is for Rockaway Beach to be an accessible and welcoming community, and there is no doubt we have made significant progress, with more improvements still to come.
KEY DATES IN SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The City Council Workshop is on Wednesday, September 9th 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.
Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager is Thursday, September 24th at 9:00 am in the City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room.
Community Emergency Preparedness meeting is Wednesday, October 7th at 6:00 pm in City Hall Council Room.
Strategic Plan Open House is Wednesday, October 28th at 5:00 pm in the City Hall Council Room.
We offer in-person and virtual options for attending all our public 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.
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 submission form.
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.
