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Big Bear Lake council approves event support; members ask for fuller review of Tour de Big Bear funding
Summary
Council approved the city's agreement for the Tour de Big Bear event after discussion and a motion to revisit the city's support and budget contribution at a later meeting; one council member voted no.
The Big Bear Lake City Council approved the agreement to support the annual Tour de Big Bear event but several council members asked for a fuller discussion of the city’s role and funding for the race.
Councilmember Randy Putz and others described the ride as a long-running community event that directs its net proceeds to many local volunteer organizations and school teams. Councilmember Rick (last name not specified in the record) and other supporters urged the council to consider designating Tour de Big Bear as one of the city’s signature events and exploring more permanent support.
Councilmember Chuck Hicks said he opposed dedicating taxpayer funds or using city resources in ways that tie up public safety staff or the city budget and said he could not support further expenditure of public funds for the event. In the roll-call vote on the agreement before the council, the motion to approve carried with four ayes and one no (Hicks).
Council direction and next steps: Several council members asked staff to bring the item back for a deeper discussion of benefits and costs; two council members requested a future agenda item for additional review. The council also discussed past budget reductions to event support (a 25% cut referenced in staff materials) and the possibility of returning the event to the village core to increase community engagement.
Public comment and community impact: Event organizers and community members told the council the race benefits an extensive list of local nonprofits, youth sports teams and volunteer organizations, and that the event draws visitors who inject tourism dollars into the local economy. Council members noted the event’s volunteer-driven nature and economic benefits but diverged on whether taxpayer support is appropriate.
Ending: The council approved the agreement as written and asked staff to return with more information at a later date; supporters were encouraged to document volunteer needs and costs to inform the follow-up discussion.
