By Mayor Charles McNeilly
Welcome to my City of Rockaway Beach Monthly Update with a look back at the month of March 2026.
March brought plenty of reasons to be proud of Rockaway Beach, from community recognition and steady progress at City Hall to strong teamwork by our first responders and staff. This month’s highlights include Green Coast Market being honored with the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association’s Growth and Innovation in Tourism Award, continued work on proposed City Charter updates with opportunities for community input coming in April, and an active stretch for our Fire Department featuring training, public CPR and First Aid classes, and successful rescues. We also moved important infrastructure efforts forward, including the kickoff of the Nedonna Beach Watermain Project and statewide recognition for our drinking water source protection work.
Our city staff, Attorney, and City Council worked together to draft proposed amendments to the city’s Charter and now require community feedback to ensure the process is successful. The focus is on resetting our council elections to have three positions on the ballot in alternating elections. The last election had all six positions on the ballot; something that is not optimal for governing consistency. We also propose increasing the term of Mayor from two to four years starting with the 2030 election. Only the voters of Rockaway Beach hold the authority to amend the Charter, so it is crucial that the ongoing work aligns with residents’ expectations. In April, the city will invite comments on these draft Charter amendments. All feedback will be reviewed and used to guide the final proposals for the November 2026 ballot. Thank you in advance for your participation in this important matter. Review draft City Charter Amendments here.
At the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association 2026 Awards Banquet, our own Green Coast Market received this year’s Growth and Innovation in Tourism Award. Congratulations to Julie and Jason Maxfield for their success and thank you, Julie and Jason, for all you do for Rockway Beach.
With Spring Break well underway our Fire Department saw an increase in calls for service. Highlights of the week included finding a lost 9-year-old on the beach and a successful Rescue with Garibaldi Fire Department at the Three Graces. Thank you for your service to our community.
CITY HALL
Luke Shepard, our City Manager, joined our Public Works department 19 years ago; rising to Public Works Director before being promoted to City Manager. What a blessing it is to have City Manager Shepard running our city.
Finance Director Johnston has successfully completed a longstanding project focused on asset tracking. On a cost basis, the city holds more than $36 million in physical assets. Asset management has reached a new level thanks to Johnston and her team, Maria and Kale, who finalized the asset management initiative. The initial phase involved entering all data from the auditor’s depreciation schedule into Caselle’s asset management module. Custom fields were then created in Caselle to include insurance categories and other relevant classifications. With this information entered, we can now generate the Asset by Groups report, which is reconciled directly with the CIS insurance schedules. This process makes it easy to identify if we have insured items that have already been disposed of, or if we have acquired assets and have not yet notified the insurance company of the purchase. Regular reconciliations can prevent avoidable problems that could arise by ensuring that everything the city owns is insured properly. In the past, these checks were completed manually and were time intensive. Although this may not be the most glamorous project, it represents yet another administrative step forward for the city.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Fire Department run report March 2026:
911 calls for Service: 35 Trainings: 4 Non-Emergent: 17
27- Medical Live Fire 4- Beach Safety
0- Fire Alarm Ocean Rescue 5- Public Assist
4- Structure Fire EMS 8- Lift Assist
0- Water Rescue 4- Burn Complaints
1- MVA 4- Radio call-ins
1- Outside Fire 0- Special Assignments
2-Haz-Mat
Chief Hesse was on KTIL radio talking about various safety issues and happenings with the fire service in Tillamook County. Please click the following link to listen to the interview. https://www.podcasts.com/tillamook-today-on-ktil-386b4ddb6/episode/032426-nestucca-rockaway-fire
The live fire training hosted by the Garibaldi Fire Department was successfully completed, with ten Rockaway Beach personnel participating. While the department’s on-site simulator remains a valuable training asset, live structural fire training provides critical real-world experience. As a result of this training, Captain Geoff Grace, Lieutenant Kale Hesse, and Firefighter Ryan Boos obtained Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Live Fire Instructor certification.
The Fire Department hosted a community CPR and First Aid class. Nine community members attended the class. This is the first of a series of classes offered to the public to gain lifesaving skills. Captain Grace will be instructing the classes.
Training continues to be the focus of the Fire Department, this Spring the department is offering a series of classes for certification such as Drivers, Pumper Operators, and Aerial Operators. Training is also ongoing for Firefighter 1 certifications, and one student is in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class. An Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) class is also being prepared for later this Spring. Their focus in March was practice and training for ocean rescues on the beach.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Planner Tapia attended two Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) meetings on statute changes related to Goal 5: Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces, and Goal 10: Housing. These meetings help the city remain informed about statewide legislative changes affecting our community. Planner Tapia also attended the Tillamook County Housing Commission meeting, where the Housing Commissioner discussed allocating resources from the Housing Production Solutions Fund, which is supported by Tillamook County Short-Term Rental (STR) license fees.
City Planner Tapia also met with Tillamook County Community Department Director Sarah Absher to discuss the City’s potential involvement in an affordable housing initiative supporting the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Under this program, the County would provide up to $10,000 to participating cities to cover Water and Sewer System Development Charges (SDCs) for ADU projects that enter into a 10-year affordability agreement with the County. This is another step to reduce financial barriers to affordable development in this county and hopefully Rockaway Beach.
The Planning Department has approved three permits: a mixed-use project on Anchor Street with four dwelling units and restaurant space, one sign permit for two signs on Highway 101 N, and a deck project on South Second Street. Additionally, seven zoning permits are under review.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission discussed their recommendations for funding small community grant applications at their March meeting. Both the small and Large Community Grants provide support to non-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and community entities that serve the Rockaway Beach community. The city received five Small Grant applications, and the Planning Commission recommended fully funding four of them. The recommended applications include Go Rockaways’ series of community events dedicated to emergency preparedness education, Tillamook County Development Disabilities Program’s picnic for community members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, NCAM’s 4th Annual Rockaway Writers Rendezvous, and Meals for Seniors’ Summer lunch program for Neah-Kah-Nie School District students. Next month, the Planning Commission will review applications for the Large Community Grant program.
If any of the Planning Commission activities listed for March 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.
PUBLIC WORKS
The Water Team, Sewer Team, and Roads and Parks Team remain busy with inspections, repair, meter rereads, equipment and infrastructure maintenance, upkeep, equipment upgrades, and replacement, and more.
The new Water Team staff continue their preparation to monitor the treatment plants during weekends and on scheduled holidays. Their first weekend shift is scheduled, with our full-time operator available on call for backup support. This ongoing training ensures reliable coverage and seamless operations for the city’s water treatment facilities.
The pre-construction meeting and contract signing for the Nedonna Beach Watermain Project took place. The contractor, Lyda Excavation, is ready to kick this project off at the end of March. Lyda has laid out an extremely ambitious schedule, but it is likely that construction will continue through Autumn. To notify the public of the upcoming project, we have prepared a flyer, which is being mailed to all the property owners in Nedonna Beach, and ordered a sign that will be posted at the entrance to Nedonna Beach, so everyone driving into the neighborhood will be aware of the project. The City’s website has been updated with a project page.
Public Works Director Mertz submitted a draft application for the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program to the National Parks Service staff for review and comment. If selected to be part of this program, National Parks Service will provide professional services to assist the Rockaway Beach community in developing a plan for outdoor recreation opportunities on the Jetty Creek property.
Superintendent Dan Emerson received notification from the Oregon Health Authority that, thanks to the city’s significant source water protection efforts, our water system has will receive the Oregon Drinking Water Source Protection Award. The Award is in recognition of excellence in protecting drinking water sources from potential contamination.
CITY COUNCIL
The March City Council Workshop covered the following:
- Review of Proposed Amendments to City Charter
- Discussing Regarding Cap Exemption for Accessible Short-Term Rentals
- Discussion Regarding Reappointment of Planning Commission Members
- Review of Contracts for Fire Department Services
The March City Council Regular Meeting covered the following:
- Presentation – Large Community Grant Closeout Report for Neah-Kah-Nie Coast Arts, Music & Cultural Foundation (NCAM) Music Technology Club
- Presentation – Large Community Grant Closeout Report – Rockaway Beach Business Association Movies in the Park
- Presentation – Small Community Grant Closeout Report – Rockaway Beach Business Association Fundraiser Projects
- Presentation – Small Community Grant Closeout Report – International Police Museum Meeting Space
- Consideration to Determine Large and Small Community Grants Complete (APPROVED)
- Consideration of Proclamation Declaring Safe & Welcoming Communities (APPROVED)
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-25: A Resolution Reappointing Members to the Planning Commission (APPROVED)
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-16: A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Award and Execute a Contract with the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder for the Nedonna Beach Water System Improvements Project (APPROVED)
If any of the Council activities listed for March 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.
KEY DATES IN APRIL FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Meetings
The City Council Workshop is on Wednesday, April 8th 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, April 16th at 5:00 pm in the City Hall Council Room.
The Budget Committee meeting is on Wednesday, April 22nd 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.
Events
The Fire Department’s Pancake Feed and Preparedness Fair is on Saturday, April 4th from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at Anchor Street Parking Lot.
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt is on Saturday, April 4th at 12 noon at Phyllis Baker Park.
The Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager is Thursday, April 23rd 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 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.