Umatilla council directs public engagement, criteria for future Rock the Locks festivals

The Umatilla City Council on March 4 directed staff and consultants from Jensen Strategies to gather community feedback on whether and how the city should continue the Rock the Locks festival, and set a schedule for neighbor and public meetings ahead of a council decision in July.

Councilors authorized staff to solicit input on multiple continuation options — from ending the series after this year to extending it for several more years — and to collect detailed fiscal and community-impact data, including an independent economic analysis. The council and consultants also agreed to make neighbor sound-mitigation a discrete part of the engagement plan.

The council’s direction launches two parallel timelines: a budget track that treats any 2026 festival funding as part of the city’s normal annual budget process, and a policy track that will gather community views and return to council with a report on June 17 and a final decision on July 15.

Why this matters: Rock the Locks has grown into Umatilla’s largest multi-day event, drawing visitors and stirring a public debate over city subsidy, neighborhood noise and downtown benefits. Councilors said they want better data on local economic impact, cost recovery and whether mitigation steps are working before committing to future festivals.

Consultants Amelia Wallace and C. O. Bensdorf of Jensen Strategies…