Cycle Oregon rally packet moved to Feb. 3 after council requests expanded neighbor notice

Jacksonville city councilors reviewed a proposal from the Cycle Oregon Foundation on Jan. 20 for a multi-day noncompetitive bicycle rally scheduled Aug. 30–Sept. 2, 2026, and asked organizers to provide more detailed neighbor outreach and logistical details before voting. Mayor Bowen said the event would use Biggum Knoll Campus as a two-night base camp and organizers estimated about 500 participants per day.

Ashley Liz, Cycle Oregon's events director, said she had lost her voice but would coordinate logistics; her colleague Chris outlined the event's format, stressing the rally is self-contained with camping, shower facilities, catered meals and limited indoor amplified music. "We do feed our people. We house them with camping. We have our own shower facilities," Chris said, adding the organization has a 37-year history of working with host communities.

Councilors pressed organizers to expand a "dear neighbor" notice included in the packet that several council members called more like a press release. Councilor Castellagio said the letter lacked daily schedules, hours, maps and clear parking or traffic guidance and urged the organizers to consult the city recorder for previous successful special-event templates. Councilor Thompson and Councilor Gregg said neighbors should be told where music and dining will occur and asked for a named contact people can call during the event.

Ashley Liz said she would revise the neighbor letter and include maps and hours; Chris and Brad (Cycle Oregon) said they would highlight that the stage and dining are indoors and that Cycle Oregon transports participants' luggage and gear so residents should not expect an influx of private cars camping on site. "We will transport everyone's luggage and tents and all of our food," Chris said. He also said organizers survey riders after events and that "typically every single one of our riders is spending at least $100 in the communities they visit."

Brad described Cycle Oregon's community payments and volunteer opportunities, saying the organization typically provides between $10,000 and $15,000 to local community groups that help with food service, baggage handling and other tasks. Cycle Oregon staff also said they will monitor air quality and have canceled or changed events for fires and other hazards in the past. "If it becomes unsafe, yes. We will absolutely cancel," Chris said.

Councilors noted a scheduling conflict: organizers planned registration to open Jan. 22, but the council had not yet approved the packet. Ashley said the registration posting reflected a misunderstanding with the host site and asked if she could provide an updated neighbor letter for council review; she offered to get the revised letter to the city as soon as possible. The council voted to move formal action on the application to its Feb. 3 meeting to allow staff and organizers time to provide the requested materials.

What happens next: Cycle Oregon organizers will submit an expanded neighbor notice with maps, clearer hours and a designated on-site contact for neighbors; the council will revisit the large-event packet at its Feb. 3 meeting.