After Hollister ends rally, councilman pitches San Juan Bautista
as new biker Mecca
While it may be a mouthful, it does have a ring: The San Juan
Bautista Independence Day Rally.
Representatives of the outfit from Florida whose last minute
proposal for a biker rally was turned down by the Hollister City
Council last Monday are finding a better reception in San Juan
Bautista.
After Hollister ends rally, councilman pitches San Juan Bautista as new biker Mecca
While it may be a mouthful, it does have a ring: The San Juan Bautista Independence Day Rally.
Representatives of the outfit from Florida whose last minute proposal for a biker rally was turned down by the Hollister City Council last Monday are finding a better reception in San Juan Bautista.
SJB Councilman Chuck Geiger is about to spring the idea on his fellow council members Tuesday, and was planning to meet with Florida-based rally promoters Gary Nowicki and Tom Recel of Biker Design in his historic Mission Town last Thursday evening. If all goes well in the tour-meeting, he hopes to present the idea to the council at its Tuesday meeting at City Hall on Second Street at 6 p.m.
“Let’s be smart, all San Benito County public and private entities should come together and support this yearly event,” said Geiger. “The (Hollister) Fourth of July Motorcycle Rally has developed national recognition.”
It’s also developed a divisive reputation throughout the community as an annual financial sinkhole, costing the City of Hollister some $350,000 for law enforcement costs every year, not to mention – for more sedate residents – frayed nerves and blasted eardrums.
Geiger says Biker Design would pay the City of San Juan $300,000 each year – with a three-year contract – in exchange for vending rights, would organize the event, pay for garbage and clean-up and even offer some of the proceeds to local charities. Geiger said he would prefer the money going back into the city coffers.
But where would one put 120,000 bikers and all their hogs over a 3-day period? Geiger offers a number of scenarios, but says the main events could be held at the city’s baseball park. There is also the Community Center and the large open field on The Alameda, next door to the school.
“San Juan could easily close down Third Street (downtown’s main street) for motorcycle parking and could set up booths for vendors on the side streets similar to
our local street fairs that take place every year in town,” Geiger said. He believes the town’s 12 restaurants, the few local hotels and RV parks would be sufficient for services – and this time Hollister and other nearby cities could take the overflow.
“I still expect bikers would be moving through the county during this three to
five-day (Independence Day) holiday season,” Geiger said.
. He doesn’t want Hollister to be left out, and calls the plan a win-win-win between the county, Hollister and San Juan.
“I see Hollister as another hub for the bikers,” Geiger offered. “I would venture to say, Hollister businesses would still offer spaces for vendors.”
As of press time, the heads of Biker Design were not available for comment. Mayor Dan Reed said he doesn’t know any of the details of the proposal and declined comment until he could glean more information about it at Tuesday’s meeting.
Geiger is undeterred, and even sees a San Juan biker rally as a silver lining should the historic town’s snarled deal with the San Benito County Water District over a badly needed water infrastructure project continue to deteriorate.
“This yearly event could desperately help San Juan Bautista,” Geiger said. “This event could off-set the water-infrastructure cost – perhaps this new revenue could lower water and sewer increases to our citizens.”
