Rockaway Beach planning commission recommends small community grants; members split on for‑profit applicant

On March 19, 2026, the Rockaway Beach Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend small community grant awards to City Council after reviewing five applications and compiled scoring from commissioners. City Planner Tapia told the commission "this year we have a $75,000 available for the city's community grant program," and said the five small‑grant applicants requested roughly $22,000 in total, representing about 29% of available funds.

The commission's debate centered on one applicant listed in the record as Bernice Bay Golf (discussed in the meeting as "Birdies") and whether a for‑profit business should qualify for a program the council originally intended for nonprofits. Mayor McNeely said the council had "explicitly wanted to have a category to cover...volunteers" and that the program was not intended for for‑profit organizations. Commissioner Johnson moved the commission's recommendation, and the motion listed specific dollar amounts for each recipient; another commissioner seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Tapia said the planning commission's action is a recommendation and that City Council will make the final awards after the large applications are received and reviewed.

Commissioners also asked staff to provide feedback to applicants. Several commissioners suggested clarifying the grant rubric next cycle to state explicitly whether for‑profit entities are eligible and to guard against funding items that might more properly be paid from department budgets (for example, activities typically funded by the fire department). The commission recorded the motion and forwarded its recommendation to the council for final action at the council meeting scheduled after April 2, when large applications are due.