By Mayor Charles McNeilly
August 3, 2026
Welcome to my City of Rockaway Beach Monthly Update with a look back at the month of July 2026.
We made it through another Independence Day weekend here in Rockaway Beach. While there are always lessons to learn and improvements to note for next year, by most accounts, this special 250-year celebration was one of our best 4th of July celebrations. I want to thank everyone who helped make it possible: our volunteers, community organizations, departments, and staff who worked so hard to deliver another successful 4th of July. It takes a tremendous effort each year, and the event tests every part of our municipality, from our first responders to our water and sewer systems. I am proud of what this city does to make July 4th so special in Rockaway Beach, and I feel fortunate to be part of it. Thank you again to everyone who gave their time, energy, and care to help our community celebrate safely and successfully.
Here are a few interesting facts from this year’s three-day July 4th weekend. Our Fire Department put in 231 hours of work while responding to nineteen unattended beach fires and four grass fires. Western Display delivered an impressive fireworks show with 6,380 shots, including 780 three-inch and larger mortars, at a pace of four shots per second. Public Works also played a leading role in keeping the weekend running smoothly, closing, and reopening fourteen streets, collecting 730 bags of trash (over seventy cubic yards), and producing 1,521,000 gallons of water. Together, these efforts show the scale of work that goes into making Independence Day weekend safe, successful, and memorable in Rockaway Beach. Again, thank you to everyone who helped make the weekend possible.
Also, Public Works received the final handrail for Wayside beach access. Staff have continued working with State Parks to identify the best way to provide safe, appropriate railing for the lower section. It looked great, and the timing was perfect for the Fourth of July.
Public Works Director Mertz and City Manager Shepard provided the City Council with its first update on the downtown parking improvement project at the July Workshop. City Council identified this work as an elevated priority during its November 2025 workshop, and staff have since prepared a detailed report outlining the progress made to date. In short, the city has been evaluating what it will take to create new parking and improve existing parking on the downtown core between Highway 101 and the railroad. While the project is possible, it will require careful coordination. City Manager focused the discussion on one of the most challenging areas: the space between North 2nd Avenue and North 3rd Avenue, where both the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad and the City have future development plans. This area must also account for the future Salmonberry Trail. I emphasized that all parties would need to work together to find a practical, mutually beneficial solution.
Our City’s Heritage Walking Tour is live and you can access the Tour on visitrockawaybeach.org, our visitor website. The tour is the result of Scott Fisher’s work, with support from Nan Devlin and me. Kudos to Scott and Nan for bringing it together. It is worth a look!
Other highlights for July include:
- New educational signs at beach entrances (see Fire Department and Emergency Preparedness section).
- Invasive species management efforts at Lake Lytle in partnership with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (see PUBLIC WORKS section).
CITY HALL
Coverage of our town’s accessibility in the Tillamook County Pioneer: https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/rockaway-beach-oregon-becomes-first-community-in-u-s-to-complete-destination-wide-accessibility-audit-for-short-term-rentals/
Finance Director Johnston and staff have been working hard to close out our 2025–2026 fiscal year, which ended June 30th. One highlight worth noting is that total interest income exceeded the budget. Despite interest rates dropping this year, the City was able to keep more funds in the Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) account, resulting in total interest earnings well beyond expectations. Impressive job, everyone.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Chief Hesse recently joined a second KTIL interview with the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office marine deputy to discuss water safety, which is especially timely as we move deeper into the summer season. Here is a link to the interview: https://www.podcasts.com/api/download-episode/214822369
The Fire Department’s summer staff are fully onboard and providing much-needed support during this busy season.
The new educational signs placed at beach entrances appear to be making a meaningful difference in reducing beach fires. Since July 4, the department has extinguished only three holdover campfires from the previous day, a noticeable decline compared to typical seasonal activity levels. This encouraging trend reflects the success of a proactive approach that combines the dedication of our summer staff in engaging beach visitors with the strategic placement of educational signage at beach access points. Together, these efforts are helping foster greater public awareness and stewardship of our coastal environment.
The Fire Department staff finalized the strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (S.W.O.T.) analysis with SSW Consulting. This collaborative effort marks an important milestone in shaping the Fire Department’s future direction. We anticipate receiving a draft of the analysis in August and look forward to sharing key findings and opportunities with the Council as they become available.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
The Planning Department continues to explore ways to improve our public-facing materials and increase the accessibility of information regarding land use regulations and processes. To this end, Planner Tapia has set up an internship program for students interested in government and land use. The focus of the internship is to further students’ education and for staff to tailor the experience to students’ interests and expectations. Students will help the City revamp the Planning web page, prepare and update our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and create guides to help residents navigate the permitting process.
City Planner Tapia met with Cascadia Partners to review the Draft Development Code Audit and Code Concepts Report. The report reviews the City’s current Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Partition Ordinance with recommendations for updates needed to comply with state housing requirements, and highlights potential barriers to residential development, including standards or procedures that could create unnecessary cost, delay, or uncertainty for housing projects.
Staff also continued preparing for the first evidentiary hearing on updates to the Flood Hazard Overlay Zone. Planner Tapia scheduled the hearing for the August 20th Planning Commission meeting. Our city sent notices to property owners in the Flood Hazard Overlay Zone, including Notice 56 and the Post-Acknowledgement Plan Amendment notice. The purpose of the Flood Hazard Overlay Zone is to promote public health, safety, and general welfare; minimize public and private losses due to flooding; and bring the City’s floodplain management rules into compliance with minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and state standards.
PUBLIC WORKS
On July 13, 2026, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) conducted a site survey of the City’s water system as part of its ongoing oversight of public drinking water systems. A site survey is a comprehensive review of a system’s facilities, operations, and records to determine whether it is operating safely and meets state and federal drinking water regulations. During the survey, OHA staff evaluated system conditions, reviewed documentation, identified potential deficiencies, and made recommendations to help maintain safe, reliable drinking water service. Public Works staff are now providing the additional information OHA requested as part of the follow-up process.
Public Works Director Mertz has been actively managing the department’s numerous grant-funded projects and associated reporting requirements. Current efforts include:
- Processing budget reallocation requests to align funding with project needs.
- Preparing and submitting grant disbursement requests for reimbursement of eligible project expenses.
- Completing final closeout documentation on completed grants.
- Finalizing the City’s application to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) Transportation and Growth Management (TGM) Program.
These activities help ensure the City remains eligible for grant funding opportunities while maintaining compliance with grant requirements.
Staff are coordinating with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) to conduct public outreach regarding invasive species management efforts at Lake Lytle (Phase 2). Staff are working to schedule an open house that will provide the community with information regarding:
- The invasive species issues with the lake.
- Available treatment options and management strategies.
- An opportunity for the public to ask questions and share.
Prior to the open house, the city will distribute informational materials to help residents better understand the issue and arrive prepared with questions and feedback.
In Nedonna Beach, the contractor continues pressure testing the new Nedonna Avenue waterline. While testing is ongoing, the contractor has experienced challenges maintaining pressure within the line, which will require further investigation. Public Works staff are collaborating closely with the contractor to troubleshoot the issue and provide technical support. Staff have requested boring profiles for review and evaluation. Based on initial findings, the contractor will add additional air release valves to improve system performance and facilitate successful pressure testing. Public Works will continue to monitor progress and provide updates as troubleshooting efforts advance.
CITY COUNCIL
The July City Council Workshop covered the following:
- Hunter Communication Franchise Agreement
- Downtown Parking Project
The July City Council Regular Meeting entailed the following:
- Consideration of Ordinance 2026-04: An Ordinance Amending City of Rockaway Beach Code of Ordinance Chapter 34, Subsection 34.64(d); Chapter 53, Section 53.10; Chapter 91, Subsection 91.33(b); Chapter 93, Subsections 93.68(a)(6), 93.68(a)(7), and 93.68(b)(2); Chapter 110, Sections 110.03, 110.05, 110.09, and Section Heading 110.10; Chapter 111, Sections 111.07 and 111.11; Chapter 150, Subsections 150.01(b)(1), 150.01(b)(2), and 150.01(b)(3) to Remove Specific Dollar Amounts Related to Fees.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-28 Establishing a Master Fee Schedule.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-29: A Resolution to Manage Requests for Reservation of the Rockaway Beach Wayside for Private Events Use During the Peak Tourist Season.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-30: A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Award and Execute a Contract With the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder for the Lake Lytle Restroom and Parking Lot Project.
If any of the Council activities listed for July 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
At July’s Planning Commission meeting, Commissioners reviewed and discussed the draft Development Code Audit and Code Concepts report with staff and Cascadia Partners. The discussion focused on how the City can provide a clearer and more objective path for housing development while ensuring the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Subdivision Ordinance remain consistent with required policy updates.
If any of the Planning Commission activities listed for July 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
A superb article about our own Rockaway Beach Pronto Pup, titled The Original Pronto Pup, Ride a mechanical corn dog at the alleged birthplace of America’s favorite deep-fried wiener, published in July.
KEY DATES IN AUGUST FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The City Council Workshop is on Wednesday, August 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.
The Planning Commission meeting is on Thursday, August 20th at 5:00 pm in the City Hall Council Room.
American Heart Association Heart Saver CPR/First Aid course is Saturday, August 22nd at 9:00 am in Rockaway Beach Fire Rescue building on Anchor St. behind City Hall. Contact Fire Department to reserve a spot.
The Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager is Thursday, August 27th at 9:00 am in the City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room.
The Community Emergency Preparedness meeting is Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:00 pm in City Hall Council 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 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.
