By Mayor Charles McNeilly
Welcome to my City of Rockaway Beach Monthly Update with a look back at the month of September 2026.
The City of Rockaway Beach is accepting applications to fill City Council Position #3 for the remainder of a term ending at the first Council meeting in January 2029. To be qualified for office, at the time of appointment a person must have been registered to vote and resided within Rockaway Beach City Limits for twelve continuous months immediately preceding the appointment, and must maintain both qualifications throughout the term. Applications are available at Rockaway Beach City Hall, 276 South Highway 101, or on the city website as a PDF application. Apply by November 5, 2026. The City Council will select three applicants for public interviews, then appoint one to the vacancy. Submit applications by mail, in person at City Hall, or by email to cityrecorder@corb.us. Questions: City Manager Luke Shepard, (503) 374-1752 or citymanager@corb.us.
We want to recognize Public Works staffer Tristan Silveira, who served as a counselor with the Tillamook County Outdoor School. Tristan helped provide hands-on outdoor education to local youth, including teaching fishing skills and assisting with activities focused on outdoor recreation, stewardship, and the responsible use of natural resources.
I was asked at the September Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager to put out a statement on what it means to be a good neighbor.
Being a good neighbor means treating those around you with kindness, respect, and consideration. It involves being friendly, offering help when needed, respecting others’ property and privacy, and contributing to a safe and welcoming community. Small acts of courtesy and cooperation can build strong relationships and make your neighborhood and our community a better place for everyone.
Our firefighters began providing standby coverage at home high-school football games in September. Go Pirates!
CITY HALL
Community outreach for the City’s Strategic Plan Update began Monday, September 28th. During October, residents can share their priorities for Rockaway Beach through an online survey or paper survey at City Hall. This effort will update—not replace—the City’s existing Strategic Plan. It will assess implementation, recognize progress over the past two years, identify needed refinements, and gather input on new needs, opportunities, and challenges. The survey closes October 30. The City will also hold a Community Open House at City Hall on Wednesday, October 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Staff and consultants will compile the feedback for Council discussion in November.
The updated Lake Lytle Project page outlines the project’s phases. This week, Public Works Director Mertz, City Manager Shepard, and I discussed the project with Will Chappell of the Tillamook Headlight Herald. The current phase adds restrooms and parking. For a future phase, the City is working with the Oregon State Marine Board on a new dock, piers, and kayak launch. Work to control invasive species in the lake will begin soon. Watch for an article in an upcoming edition of the Tillamook Headlight Herald.
Community members can review the preliminary water access design and complete the Lake Lytle survey on the City’s website through the end of October. Staff will send the results to the Oregon State Marine Board and use feedback to guide the next phase of design and engineering.
Construction is underway on restroom and parking improvements at the Lake Lytle Recreation Area. Following the pre-construction meeting and contract signing, the contractor began demolition. A portable restroom will remain available, and the parking area will stay open whenever possible. Public Works Director Mertz also presented the project to the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners. I am pleased to see this long-awaited project move into construction and thank Tillamook County for its continued partnership.
The City also received good news about financing the Jetty Creek Watershed acquisition. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality confirmed that the City qualifies for an additional $500,000 in loan forgiveness through the Emerging Contaminants Fund. This support will reduce the City’s acquisition debt, protect our drinking-water source, and limit costs to ratepayers. The Lower Jetty Creek acquisition had already been approved for financing through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and found eligible for principal forgiveness. The additional award makes the funding package even stronger.
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
On Friday, September 11, the Fire Department hosted a remembrance ceremony at the Wayside to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The ceremony honored the civilians, military personnel, and emergency responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
The countywide burn ban was lifted October 1st. In Tillamook County burning permits are required for open burning. Contact the Fire Department for a permit.
October will be another active month for community preparedness:
- During Fire Prevention Week, October 3–10, Rockaway Beach Fire Rescue will join Nehalem Fire for an open house.
- The quarterly Community Preparedness Meeting will be held Wednesday, October 7, at 6:00 p.m. and will focus on winter safety and earthquake preparedness.
- The Great Shake Out will take place Thursday, October 15, at 10:15 a.m., giving the community another opportunity to practice its emergency plans.
Training remains a priority for our fire department. The department tested two online platforms designed to strengthen EMS skills and officer development. One platform uses familiar local buildings and landmarks in live-fire simulations, allowing crews to practice decision-making in realistic fire and rescue scenarios.
Our firefighters also used the favorable weather for structure-fire scenario training. Crews practiced establishing hydrant water supplies, stretching hose lines, ladder operations, ventilation, and rescue techniques. Residents may occasionally see this training at nearby homes.
Fire Department Run Report September 2026:
| 911 calls for Service: 63 | Trainings: 8 | Non-Emergent: 54 |
| 36- Medical | Ladder Operations | 26- Beach Safety |
| 7- Fire Alarm | Size-Up | 6- Public Assist |
| 2- Structure Fire | EMS | 6- Lift Assist |
| 2- Water Rescue | FLAG | 11- Burn Complaints |
| 7- MVA | Fire Attack | 4- Radio call-ins |
| 7- Outside Fire | 1- Special Assignments | |
| 2-Haz-Mat |
| Year to Date | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| 911 Calls | 302 | 319 | 323 | 416 | 441 |
| Non-Emergent | 223 | 250 | 274 | 272 | 372 |
| Trainings | 92 | 82 | 88 | 108 | 72 |
| Total | 617 | 651 | 685 | 796 | 885 |
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Planner Tapia’s new office hours launched at City Hall. The goal is to make technical planning assistance more accessible to residents, property owners, contractors, and developers while also managing the growing demand for staff time.
The current office-hour schedule is:
- Monday: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
- Thursday: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Assistance during these hours will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone who needs to meet outside these times may still schedule an appointment by contacting Planner Tapia by email (cityplanner@corb.us) or phone (503) 374-1752 Ext. 110. This is a positive step toward improving access to the Planning Department and will better serve the community’s growing need for planning assistance.
Planner Tapia attended the Oregon chapter of the American Planning Association (OAPA) annual conference. This year’s theme, Anchored in Place, Navigating Change, reflects the opportunities and challenges facing our communities as planners work together to create resilient, thriving places.
PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works has updated their Public Works Department webpage with additional information about the department’s responsibilities, mission, vision, and core values. I encourage everyone to look at the updated page and learn more about the wide range of services our Public Works crew provides to the community each day.
The Nedonna Beach Water Improvement Project is now complete, including the final walkthrough. Only project closeout paperwork remains. Once the City receives the contractor’s final payment request and the remaining engineering invoices, staff will be able to submit the final reimbursement request to Business Oregon. This has been one of the City’s largest water-infrastructure investments in decades, replacing aging water mains and improving system reliability throughout the neighborhood. Thank you again to the residents of Nedonna Beach for their patience during construction, and thank you to our staff, contractors, engineers, and funding partners for bringing this major project to the finish line.
Public Works scheduled the installation of a new water main in the nine hundred block of South Easy Street beginning September 16th. The work includes tying into the existing main on Washington Avenue and adding new valves on Washington and Easy Street. These needed improvements were identified through the leak detection survey completed earlier this year. Completing the project in-house provides valuable hands-on training for our crew while generating cost savings for the City.
CITY COUNCIL
The September City Council Workshop covered the following topics:
- Rural Fire District Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) Update
- Procurement (Public Contracts) Ordinance Update
- Review Amended 2027 Community Grant Program Schedule and Policy
The September City Council Regular Meeting covered the following topics:
- Consideration to Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-05: An Ordinance Amending City of Rockaway Beach Zoning Ordinance 143 (Code Chapter 155) Related to the Flood Hazard Overlay Zone (Adopted)
- Consideration of Proclamation – Water Professionals Appreciation Week (Proclaimed)
- Consideration of Resolution No. 2026-34 Approving Twin Rocks Rural Fire District Intergovernmental Agreement (Approved)
If any of the Council activities listed for September 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
The September 17 Planning Commission meeting was canceled, with the next regular meeting scheduled for October 15.
RURAL TOURISM PARTNERS
I am pleased to share that, year over year, visitrockawaybeach.org website users increased 5%, new website users increased 7%, new Facebook followers increased 110%, and Instagram followers increased 29%.
The Portland Monthly article titled “Rockaway Beach Has Everything You Need for an Autumn Getaway,” published on September 16, 2026, highlights Rockaway Beach, Oregon, as an ideal fall destination for unwinding, shopping, dining, and outdoor exploration.
KEY DATES IN OCTOBER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The Community Emergency Preparedness meeting is Wednesday, October 7th at 6:00 pm in City Hall Council Room.
The City Council Workshop is on Wednesday, October 14th 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 Great Shake Out will take place Thursday, October 15, at 10:15 am.
The Planning Commission meeting is on Thursday, October 15th at 5:00 pm in City Hall Council Room.
The Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager is Thursday, October 22nd at 9:00 am in the City Hall 2nd Floor Conference 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.
