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City of Rockaway Beach
Workshop City Council Meeting Minutes
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Location: Rockaway Beach City Hall, 276 Hwy 101 - 2nd Floor Conference Room
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McNeilly called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Council Members Present: Charles McNeilly, Mary McGinnis, Penny Cheek, Kiley Konruff, Pat Ryan
Council Members
Excused: Tom Martine
Staff Present: Luke Shepard, City Manager; Melissa Thompson, City Recorder; Todd
Hesse, Fire Chief; and Mary Mertz, Public Works Director
3. COUNCILB RIEFING/DISCUSSION
a. Emergency Management Program Presentation - Todd Hesse, Fire Chief
. Hesse shared a presentation on emergency management goals for 2026 and a timeline for
implementation.
. Suggestions to take a stair-step approach to address supply needs for full-time residents and
visitors, to require go bags in hotels and short-term rentals, and to assist older residents with
obtaining go bags.
. Discussion regarding assistance offered for those who need it during emergencies, and related
public education and outreach.
. Further discussion regarding public outreach and suggestionst o use a variety of methods.
. Discussion regarding elected official responsibilities during emergencies.
. Discussion regarding rodent activity in the radio equipment shack.
b. Review of Draft Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Agreement No. RC0036f or LowerJ etty
Creek Watershed Acquisition
. Shepard explained that the final piece of the funding packagef or acquisition of the lower Jetty
Creek Watershed was coming together. Shepard explained the loan would be paired with $1.25
million in grant funds from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.
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. Mertz shared a presentation providing an overview of the draft Clean Water State Revolving
Loan Fund Agreement and revisions to the final loan agreement that the City was currently
working on with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
. Mertz explained that the Council would consider at the regular meeting a resolution to
authorize the Mayor & City Manager to execute the final loan agreement.
. Mertz clarified the terms of the loan payments and forgiveness.
c. Review of Proposed Amendments to Code Chapter 113: Short Term Rentals
. Shepard referred to his staff report and noted that the Council previously had consensust o
leave the cap on short-term rental (STR) licenses as is.
. STR accessibility will be addressed in next month's workshop.
. Proposed changes to the STR code were reviewed.
. Shepard explained that most STRs using hosting platforms would be able to easily provide
required records for the guest registry.
. Shepard clarified that the 30-day use requirement was over a 12-month period, and would
impact renewals a year from this July.
. Suggestion was made to amend the language in section K for clarity.
. Shepard confirmed that staff was still workingt oward developing a code enforcement program.
d. Review of Neah-Kah-NieC oast Arts Music & Cultural Foundation (NCAM) Wayside Use
Application
. Shepard stated that staff reviewed the application and provided comments for conditional
approval.
. Shepard explained that Public Works anticipated having electrical power improvements in place
in time for the event.
. McGinnis declared that although it wasn't a conflict of interest, she was on the NCAM board, but
didn't participate in the preparation of the application in anyway.
. Staff confirmed that insurance and required licenses were included in the conditions of approval
in the resolution.
e. Other Regular Session Agenda Items Review
. Shepard stated that it may be a long regular session, and 2026 was beginning with a lot of
momentum.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Pat Ryan, seconded by Penny Cheek, to adjourn the meeting at 5:24 p.m.
Motion Passed by the following vote:
Yes: 4 (Mary McGinnis, Penny Cheek, Kiley Konruff, Pat Ryan)
No:0(None)
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MINUTES APPROVED THE
11TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026
Charles McNeilly, Mayor
ATTEST
Melissa Thompson, City Recorder
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Workshop Minutes -January 14, 2026