By Mayor Charles McNeilly
October was a busy and productive month in Rockaway Beach. From long-term planning and critical utility improvements to emergency preparedness, housing, transportation, recreation, and community events, much of this month’s work centered on a common goal: making Rockaway Beach a safer, more resilient, welcoming, and livable community.
Thank you to the residents who attended meetings, completed surveys, participated in emergency exercises, asked questions, and shared ideas. Community participation makes better decisions possible.
October at a Glance
•Residents participated in the Strategic Plan Community Open House, providing input on infrastructure, housing, transportation, recreation, economic vitality, tourism and livability, and community communication.
•Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) selected Rockaway Beach for their Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program funding for a comprehensive update of the City’s Transportation System Plan.
•Public Works continued installation of fifteen new telemetry units across the City’s water and wastewater systems.
•More than 450 residents and students participated in the Great Shake Out, practicing earthquake response and evacuation.
•Public Works completed the Juniper Street Culvert Improvement Project.
•Work continued on the Easy Street Water Main Improvement Project, Jetty Creek property acquisition, downtown parking concepts, housing-code updates, and the 4th Street Lift Station.
•DEQ changed the City’s loan for the Lower Jetty Creek Watershed acquisition, replacing $500,000 of expected debt with fully forgivable Emerging Contaminants funding.
•Council authorized additional work involving Lake Lytle and Jetty Creek recreation and trails planning.
•The City’s Fall 2026 Newsletter is ready for publication.
Strategic Planning: Residents Help Shape Rockaway Beach’s Future
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Strategic Plan Community Open House on October 28. Residents had an opportunity to review the City’s progress and offer ideas about infrastructure, housing, transportation, recreation, economic vitality, tourism and livability, and community communication. This input will help inform the focused refresh of Rockaway Beach’s existing Strategic Plan. The purpose is not simply to create another plan. It is to evaluate what we have accomplished, determine where priorities may need to change, identify new opportunities and challenges, and help guide City spending over the next two years. The next major step is for Council and staff to review community feedback, assess progress under the existing plan, and discuss priorities and potential refinements.
Investing in Rockaway Beach’s Infrastructure
Smarter Monitoring of Our Water and Wastewater Systems
One of the most important operational improvements underway this fiscal year is the Mission Telemetry Improvement Project. Public Works is installing fifteen telemetry units throughout the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. Once operating, the system will provide real-time monitoring, remote access, and automated alarm notifications at critical facilities. That means staff will have better information about our utility systems, particularly after normal working hours, and will be able to identify and respond to developing problems more quickly. Completion is anticipated in early November.
Easy Street Water Main
Public Works also made substantial progress on the Easy Street Water Main Improvement Project. The project replaces an aging, corroded steel main that has created repeated maintenance problems. The City’s Public Works crew is performing the work in-house, installing a new six-inch main along with services, valves, fittings, a fire hydrant, and related components. Once construction is complete, the main must undergo pressure testing, flushing, and disinfection before being placed into service in accordance with Oregon Health Authority requirements. Projects like this may happen underground and out of public view, but they are fundamental to dependable City services.
Juniper Street Culvert Completed
Public Works completed the Juniper Street Culvert Improvement Project during October. During high-flow events, stormwater had been traveling around a section of the City-owned culvert instead of through the pipe, contributing to erosion and storm-related damage. The completed improvements will direct more water through the culvert, improve drainage performance, and reduce the potential for future erosion and storm damage.
4th Street Lift Station
Public Works finalized design and engineering for improvements to the 4th Street Lift Station, with construction bidding anticipated this winter. Our city intends the project to modernize an important piece of wastewater infrastructure while improving staff safety, system reliability, and resilience.
Planning Transportation for the Next 20 Years
One of October’s most exciting announcements was the City’s selection for Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program funding to complete a comprehensive update of Rockaway Beach’s Transportation System Plan. This 24-month consultant-led effort will examine the City’s long-term transportation needs, including:
• Pedestrian safety and walking
• Bicycle connectivity
• Highway access and circulation
• Parking
• Transit
• ADA accessibility
• Emergency evacuation
• Seasonal tourism traffic
• Housing and land-use coordination
• Coastal-hazard resilience
• Integration of the Salmonberry Trail
The Transportation System Plan should help us answer fundamental questions: What transportation problems do we have today? What will we need in the future? Which projects should receive priority? And how should our city invest limited transportation dollars? Residents, businesses, visitors, community organizations, and partner agencies will have opportunities to participate as the project moves forward.
Protecting Jetty Creek and Our Drinking-Water Future
Our city continues to work on the acquisition of the lower Jetty Creek property. The City continues collaborating with the seller, legal counsel, funding agencies, Tillamook County, and project partners on the remaining due dilleegence items. October also brought particularly good financial news. An amendment to the City’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) loan replaces $500,000 of anticipated debt with fully forgivable Emerging Contaminants funding, without increasing the City’s overall loan award or reducing the existing principal-forgiveness benefit. That is an important benefit for Rockaway Beach ratepayers.
We are also looking beyond acquisition. The City is pursuing National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance support to help plan appropriate low impact recreation and trail opportunities on the property while protecting the watershed, forest, natural resources, and our community’s drinking-water source. City Council approved a commitment letter supporting the application, and Northwest Trail Alliance, Rural Tourism Partners, and Sustainable Northwest provided additional commitment letters supporting the application. Daniel Wear with Sustainable Northwest has also expressed interest in featuring Rockaway Beach during the State’s upcoming budget cycle as an example of how drinking-water-source-protection funding can leverage additional investment and help smaller communities protect essential water resources.
Downtown Parking
Finding ways to improve downtown parking remains another important City initiative.
Public Works Director Mary Mertz and City Manager Luke Shepard met with HBH Engineering to review preliminary parking concepts. There is still considerable analysis and design work ahead, so it is too early to identify a specific number of potential new spaces. Initial concepts, however, show opportunities to add meaningful parking capacity while improving downtown circulation. Better parking can benefit residents and visitors while supporting local businesses and the long-term vitality of downtown. There will be much more to come as this work develops.
Housing and Planning
Rockaway Beach continues working with Cascadia Partners to update local regulations affecting residential development. The first Housing Code Open House was held October 21 at Neah-Kah-Nie High School. While attendance was smaller than hoped, residents who participated were actively engaged. The project is reviewing the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, and related regulations. The work will address state housing requirements, identify potential permitting and land-use barriers, provide clearer development standards, and support housing production, affordability, and choice. The Planning Department also continued working with Tillamook County on land-use matters involving the Urban Growth Boundary and began work associated with Oregon’s cultural areas rules.
Emergency Preparedness in Action
Preparedness works best when we practice it. More than 450 residents and students from Neah-Kah-Nie middle and high schools participated in October’s Great Shake Out. Participants practiced “Drop, Cover, and Hold On,” followed by evacuation and assembly procedures.
The Fire Department also:
• Completed a CPR and First Aid class with twelve participants.
• Provided medical standby coverage for Homecoming activities.
• Ordered warming-center supplies in preparation for winter.
• Completed annual hose testing, with department hose passing required testing for the coming year.
• Expanded availability of voluntary wildfire defensible-space surveys for residents.
• Continued planning for the recently acquired emergency-management property formerly owned by Tillamook PUD.
Chief Hesse, Captain Grace, and Firefighter Boos have completed certification training and can provide practical recommendations to residents interested in reducing wildfire risk around their homes and properties. If you are interested in a Wildfire Risk Assessment of your property, please contact the Fire Department at (503) 374-1752 (press 4).
Fire Department Run Report October 2026:
911 calls for Service: 55 Trainings: 10 Non-Emergent: 45
43- Medical Ladder Operations 12- Beach Safety
6- Fire Alarm Vehicle Fires 7- Public Assist
2- Structure Fire Scenarios 14- Lift Assist
1- Water Rescue Fire Attack 7- Burn Complaints
2- MVA EMS 4- Radio call-ins
1- Outside Fire 1- Special Assignments
0-Haz-Mat
Year to Date 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
911 Calls 334 380 323 449 495
Non-Emergent 240 277 310 300 417
Trainings 97 90 93 115 109
Total 671 716 762 864 994
Lake Lytle
Lake Lytle continued to be an important subject of community discussion during October. The City sought public input on potential improvements including an ADA-accessible kayak launch, fishing dock, boat-launch improvements, and other amenities. City Council also authorized a professional services agreement with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership to assist with public engagement and evaluation of potential approaches to managing Eurasian watermilfoil in Lake Lytle. Together, this work is intended to help the City think carefully about recreation, accessibility, environmental stewardship, and Lake Lytle’s future.
Staying Connected With Residents
Mayor McNeilly and the City Manager held their monthly Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager on October 22. These informal gatherings give residents an opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, learn more about current projects, and talk directly about the issues affecting Rockaway Beach. Thanks to everyone who joined us.
A big shout out to our Fire Department and Go Rockaway for Trunk or Treat at Anchor Street Parking Lot and the Rockaway Beach Business Association for their Halloween Candy Rush throughout our downtown core!
The Fall Newsletter 2026 is also ready for publication. A great deal of work goes into producing these newsletters, and special thanks go to Melissa Thompson and everyone who helped prepare this edition. Keep an eye on your mailbox.
Rockaway Beach in the Spotlight: Business Growth and Wintertime Charm
Rockaway Beach received welcome outside recognition in the recent Oregon Business article “Rockaway Beach: Not Business as Usual,” which highlights the City’s business-development efforts, grant programs, investments, staff, and community.
Also, check out the article Winter is a great time to “chill-out” in Rockaway Beach – Willamette Living.
Representing Rockaway Beach: Bringing Ideas, Resources and Relationships Home
Councilors Pat Ryan and Mary McGinnis, City Manager Luke Shepard and I represented Rockaway Beach at the 2026 League of Oregon Cities Annual Conference.
Councilor Mary McGinnis and I also represented Rockaway Beach at the 2026 Oregon Coast Economic Summit at Seaside, where policymakers, lawmakers, subject matter experts, and community leaders gathered to discuss opportunities and challenges facing Oregon’s coastal communities.
Coming Up
Wednesday, November 18
Council Workshop
4:30 pm
Rockaway Beach City Hall – 2nd Floor Conference Room
Council Regular Meeting
6:00 pm
Rockaway Beach City Hall – Council Room
Thursday, November 19
Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Rockaway Beach City Hall – 2nd Floor Conference Room
Thursday, November 19
Planning Commission Meeting
5:00 pm
Rockaway Beach City Hall – Council Room
Friday, November 27
Annual Holiday Tree Lighting at the Wayside
Activities begin at 5:00 p.m.
Santa arrives by train at 5:30 p.m.
Tree-lighting ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, November 27 – Saturday, November 28
Fire Dept. Holiday Bazaar
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Rockaway Beach City Hall
Saturday, December 12
Santa at the Station
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Rockaway Beach Fire Station
Moving Forward Together
October demonstrated just how many pieces must come together to move our community forward. We are improving water and wastewater systems, planning for our future transportation needs, protecting our drinking-water source, examining housing regulations, investing in emergency preparedness, considering improvements at Lake Lytle, planning for better downtown parking, and asking residents to help determine Rockaway Beach’s priorities.
These projects are different, but they have something important in common: they are long-term investments in the safety, resilience, livability, and future of Rockaway Beach.
Thank you to our City staff, volunteers, community partners, City Council and Planning Commission members, and especially the residents who continue to participate and share their ideas.
