A method for control cycle management in a wireless communication system. In accordance with the method, a radio access network (RAN) reserves at least one portion of a control channel cycle on an air interface forward link to carry a set of information, and determines a remaining capacity of the control channel cycle beyond the reserved portion or portions. The RAN the selects as much of the neighbor list as will fit in the remaining capacity and transmits the selected portion of the neighbor list in the control channel cycle.