By Charles McNeilly, Rockaway Beach Mayor
Have you ever wondered what gives our city the authority to build parks, maintain roads, provide services, or adopt local ordinances?
We often think about the U.S. Constitution or state law when we think about government, but one of the documents that has the greatest impact on our everyday lives is much closer to home: our city charter.
In Oregon, a city charter is a local constitution. It establishes the basic framework for city government—how it is organized, who has responsibility for what, and how decisions are made.
To understand why this matters, we must go back to 1906, when Oregon voters amended the state constitution to give cities “Home Rule.” Before then, cities often had to rely on the state legislature to make changes involving their local government. Home Rule gave Oregon communities much greater control over their own affairs.
That tradition of local decision-making continues today. It gives communities like Rockaway Beach the ability to shape their government around local needs and priorities rather than having every decision made in Salem.
Our own charter also tells us how Rockaway Beach is governed.
We use a Council-Manager form of government. Residents elect a Mayor and five City Councilors to represent the community and set policy. They listen to residents, collaborate with staff and consultants, and adopt ordinances and resolutions that guide the city.
The Council appoints a professional City Manager who oversees the city’s day-to-day operations, including public works, utilities, finances, staff, and other services. This structure creates a clear distinction: elected officials set the city’s direction, while professional staff carry it out.
Most importantly, the city charter belongs to the community. Significant changes are not simply made at City Hall. Amendments to the charter go before the voters, giving residents a direct voice in determining how their city government is structured.
That is what makes our charter more than just a legal document. It is an expression of local self-government and a reminder that residents have a vital role in shaping the future of Rockaway Beach.
As our community changes and faces new opportunities and challenges, this framework helps ensure that our government can change—while keeping the ultimate authority where it belongs: with the people of Rockaway Beach.
Thank you for your time and attention.
City Measure 29-187 is a ballot measure for the City of Rockaway Beach, Oregon, concerning a City Charter Amendment on the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot.
What the Measure Does
If approved by voters, the measure amends the existing City Charter to:
• Home Rule Power: Explicitly recognizes the city’s “home rule” authority.
• Council-Manager Alignment: Removes the responsibility of the mayor and city councilors to act as “heads of departments,” aligning the charter with a true council-manager form of government.
• Staggered Terms: Staggers terms for city elected officials so that roughly half of the positions are up for election at each general election.
• Mayor’s Term: Changes the mayor’s term from 2 years to 4 years (starting with the 2030 election).
• Vacancies: Clarifies that an office becomes vacant upon death, adjudicated incompetence, or recall.
• Municipal Court: Allows the municipal judge to commit someone to jail or admit them to bail on a city offense.
• Clean-up: Cleans up repeated text and cross-references throughout the document.
The full text of the measure is available for review at Rockaway Beach City Hall, on the website at https://www.rockawaybeachoregon.gov/353/City-Charter-Amendments-2026 or via the Tillamook County Elections Office.
