March Newsletter
Accounting
POP: Checks, bank statements, and invoices will soon be added to each owner’s personal portal on POP’s website.
Reserve Account: Owners need to confirm whether they intend for $300.00 per owner, per month to be transferred into the reserve bank account. This amount reflects the three $100.00 per-owner, per-month reserve contribution increases approved by the owners at the 2017, 2024, and 2025 meetings.
Cameras
Dennis will remove the rusty, non-working camera above the Unit #1 garage. He may leave the camera near the gate in place for now. Although it is not working, potential intruders would not know that. If possible, he will also clean the gate camera.
Beach Access & Parking
Shawny, Ron Reel, and Gale — please see the ‘draft’ letter below this month’s newsletter.
Communication Policy
We are waiting for an update from MCC’s lawyer.
Gardener
We are very sorry to hear that Bob is no longer able to serve as MCC’s gardener. Multiple gardeners have been contacted, but the Board has not yet selected someone to fill the position.
Gates
Owners, please keep the front walking gate and lower fire lane gates locked.
Gutters #2 Roof
Ramon said he could not find any dented or compromised gutters, but he will repair them if someone identifies the specific location.
Retaining Wall and Center Drain
Dennis asked Josh about the retaining wall and what he would need from the engineer, Bob Busch. Josh stated that he needs a design for the wall, along with a plan for stabilizing and holding back the hillside during the wall repair process.
Josh also mentioned that he is aware of several other projects currently delayed due to Bob Busch’s backlog. He recommended that we consider using the Galli Group for any further engineering work related to the retaining wall.
Thank you, Sam, for continuing to stay in contact with Bob Busch, and thank you for the update that Bob will be in Southern California for another one to two weeks.
Reserve Study
At the annual meeting, the owners voted to keep the excess unused assessment funds in the reserve bank account. Carson at CRC will be notified and can now prepare the 2026 reserve study.
Roof #1
Dennis called and emailed Ramon to let him know that we are prepared to move forward with the tile replacement and cleaning on the #1 roof. Dennis asked Ramon to send over a current bid so it can be signed.
Ramon returned Dennis’ call and confirmed that his bid is still valid. He stated that he should be able to begin the tile cleaning and replacement next week. He also agreed to pick up the new tiles from Ron Edwards’ yard.
Once the work is completed, we can decide whether to proceed with the paint application at the additional cost.
Ramon also mentioned that he is currently completing this same process for the State Farm building downtown, and we can look at the finished work beforehand if we would like.
Tiles in Edwards Yard
Ramon will pick up the tiles.
Tree Trimming – Driveway
The large driveway trees continue to deteriorate, and the moss continues to grow. Noah from Western Tree Service advised that the trees need to come down.
Wall #1 Outside Wall
Dennis spoke with Josh from House Rock, and Josh will be updating his bid for the #1 wall siding replacement.
Dennis also asked about the timing for the work. Josh stated that he would hire additional workers to ensure the project is completed.
Windows, Skylights, Cement Stairs
Paul Lopez is scheduled to clean the loft windows and skylights and treat the moss on the ocean staircase. After this initial cleaning, he will be placed on a regular schedule for these services.
After September, Paul will also be placed on a regular schedule for gutter cleaning, which he performs only during the winter season.
Dennis asked Paul whether there was a way to clean the loft windows without going onto the roof. He stated that the pole-cleaning process cannot be used on the loft windows and that roof access is necessary.
Volunteers
Thank you to all our volunteers for your continued help and support. We apologize if we missed anyone in our thanks. Please know that every volunteer and every team effort is truly appreciated.
Shawny, POP and Gale: Thank you for your continued efforts to encourage the city to reduce beach access hours.
Lee: Thank you for coordinating with Noah regarding willow & tree trimming and for providing photos of the ongoing roof repair on Building #2.
Bill and Janice: Thank you for providing updates on the #2 roof repair, cleaning #1 gutters and continued research into paint/coating products.
Sam: Thank you for coordinating with Bob Busch regarding hillside monitoring.
Beach Access Hours – Team Effort
· Team: Shawny, Gale, and Ron Reel
DRAFT:
Dear Ms. Kristi Fulton and Chief Kelby McCrae,
I am writing to respectfully request further review of the Mill Beach parking lot’s hours of operation and the ongoing impact current conditions are having on the surrounding neighborhood, nearby residents, visitors, and the broader Brookings community.
First, I would like to thank both of you for taking the time to listen to the concerns expressed by Macklyn Cove residents. Ms. Fulton, I sincerely appreciate your willingness to discuss this issue with the City Council. Chief McCrae, I also appreciate your professionalism and willingness to hear the concerns raised regarding activity in and around the parking area.
As the property manager for Macklyn Cove HOA, as well as several other associations, my staff and I regularly receive complaints from residents with the expectation that we will help provide relief from ongoing problems affecting their homes, safety, and quality of life. The residents living near Mill Beach are not seeking to limit responsible public enjoyment of the beach. Rather, they are asking for reasonable measures that protect legitimate, family-friendly, and lawful use of the beach while discouraging late-night activity that creates safety concerns, excessive noise, unsanitary conditions, and unnecessary calls for law enforcement response.
It is important to emphasize that this is not a concern raised by only one resident. While one resident may have made formal reports, several residents have experienced or witnessed these ongoing problems. Some have become discouraged after attempting to report issues and feeling that the matter may not be meaningfully addressed. The concerns extend beyond individual inconvenience and affect the safety, peace, and livability of the entire surrounding neighborhood.
The recurring concerns include late-night disturbances, loud music, suspected drug activity, fighting, people sleeping in and around the bathroom area, people sleeping in vehicles, unsanitary conditions in and around the parking lot, parking overflow into the surrounding neighborhood, and other public safety issues. Residents have reported music loud enough to rattle windows. They have also observed that when police vehicles are seen approaching through the only access point, activity changes immediately — music is turned down, fights stop, and questionable activity is concealed. This suggests that the current conditions are predictable and preventable, but difficult to address effectively under the existing operating structure.
One specific issue that deserves review is the current parking lot hours. The Mill Beach parking lot is reportedly open from 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight, which appears to be significantly longer than surrounding city parks and beach access areas. Harbor beach access is reportedly open until 10:00 p.m., while Harris Beach closes one-half hour after sunset. If the Mill Beach parking lot hours were adjusted to 8:00 a.m. until sunset, or one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset, they would be more consistent with nearby parks and beach access areas while still preserving meaningful public access during appropriate daytime and early evening hours.
We also understand that public comment has recently been requested regarding proposed state rule adoption related to coastal public access. This presents an opportunity to consider whether Oregon should adopt uniform beach access hours statewide, such as one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. Uniform hours would provide clearer expectations for the public, reduce confusion among local agencies, and help avoid situations where one beach access area remains open significantly later than others, unintentionally drawing late-night activity into a residential neighborhood.
While Mill Beach itself may technically remain accessible, shorter parking lot hours would likely serve as a significant deterrent to late-night gatherings, unlawful activity, and misuse of the area. The goal is not to close the beach to responsible users, but to reduce the conditions that currently encourage late-night activity inconsistent with public safety and neighborhood livability.
Another ongoing challenge appears to be overlapping jurisdiction and unclear responsibility among multiple agencies. Residents have reported being directed to different agencies depending on the nature of the issue. For example, they have been told to contact Oregon State Police for matters such as chainsaw cutting, beach camping, bathroom use on the beach, and other beach-related concerns; the volunteer fire department for unattended or unauthorized fires; State Park Rangers for certain beach issues, although it remains unclear which issues fall under their authority; and the Brookings Police Department non-emergency line for parking lot problems occurring between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
This multi-agency structure, combined with limited visibility, limited staffing, and unclear response responsibility, appears to create a predictable gap in enforcement. Unfortunately, that gap places the burden on nearby residents and results in police resources being used reactively rather than preventively.
I respectfully request that the city consider shorter parking lot operating hours, improved signage, increased monitoring, clearer interagency coordination, or other reasonable measures to reduce late-night activity and improve overall safety. I also respectfully encourage the City to support consistent coastal access hours that align Mill Beach with other nearby beach access areas and, where possible, with any statewide rule establishing uniform access hours for Oregon beaches.
Even modest operational adjustments could significantly improve conditions for residents and visitors while still preserving public access to Mill Beach for appropriate and lawful use.
Our intention is not to restrict responsible public enjoyment of Mill Beach. To the contrary, nearby residents often serve as informal stewards of the area because they are present, observant, and concerned about the safety and condition of the beach for everyone — including families, visitors, local-residents, and lawful beach users. The concern is with activity such as late-night partying, suspected drug use, excessive noise, fires, unsanitary behavior, and other conduct that undermines safe and wholesome public use of the area.
I am hopeful that the city, the Police Department, and any other involved departments or agencies can work collaboratively toward a practical solution that balances public access with neighborhood safety, responsible use, and livability for those who live nearby year-round.
Thank you again for your time, consideration, and public service to the Brookings community. I would greatly appreciate any continued discussion, review, or action regarding this matter.
I am available to assist with questions, provide additional information, or help gather resident input as needed.
Respectfully,