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ENLARGE
Members of the beach access working group on Thursday said they felt betrayed after Gene Brockman voted to reject the group's proposal to mend the controversial issue.
The Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees voted 3-2 on Wednesday to decline the proposal. Board chair Bea Epstein and Trustee Bob Wolf voted "yes," while Trustees Brockman, John Bohn and Chuck Weinberger voted the proposal down after two hours of heated discussion at the Chateau.
Incline residents Chuck Otto and Andy Wolf, Crystal Bay residents Steven Kroll and Frank Wright, IVGID trustees Brockman and Bea Epstein and IVGID General Manager Bill Horn, who acted as facilitator, were part of the working group assigned by the IVGID board on June 27 to devise the proposal.
What had some working group members disappointed is that Brockman voted the proposal down despite signing it as a member of the working group last week.
"After all the time we spent, that one of the participants was against - the result was mind-boggling," Wright said Thursday of Brockman's vote.
Brockman said he and Epstein "participated fully and actively in the preparation of the motion," but were entirely objective when signing the proposal. The entire proposal, which lists the signatures of Epstein, Brockman and Horn as "being present," can be found at www.ivgid.org within Wednesday's Board of Trustees agenda packet.
"When the signatures were added, the four people (Otto, Wright, Andy Wolf and Kroll) on the committee who were not a part of IVGID, they signed as being part of the proposal," Brockman said. "(Epstein and I) signed as being present - we had no support or opposition."
Wright said "threatening" public comments swayed Brockman's - and the board's - decision.
"I wasn't proud of these citizens when I left. To come into a democratic situation and forcefully threaten board members with litigation was appalling," Wright said.
The Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees voted 3-2 on Wednesday to decline the proposal. Board chair Bea Epstein and Trustee Bob Wolf voted "yes," while Trustees Brockman, John Bohn and Chuck Weinberger voted the proposal down after two hours of heated discussion at the Chateau.
Incline residents Chuck Otto and Andy Wolf, Crystal Bay residents Steven Kroll and Frank Wright, IVGID trustees Brockman and Bea Epstein and IVGID General Manager Bill Horn, who acted as facilitator, were part of the working group assigned by the IVGID board on June 27 to devise the proposal.
What had some working group members disappointed is that Brockman voted the proposal down despite signing it as a member of the working group last week.
"After all the time we spent, that one of the participants was against - the result was mind-boggling," Wright said Thursday of Brockman's vote.
Brockman said he and Epstein "participated fully and actively in the preparation of the motion," but were entirely objective when signing the proposal. The entire proposal, which lists the signatures of Epstein, Brockman and Horn as "being present," can be found at www.ivgid.org within Wednesday's Board of Trustees agenda packet.
"When the signatures were added, the four people (Otto, Wright, Andy Wolf and Kroll) on the committee who were not a part of IVGID, they signed as being part of the proposal," Brockman said. "(Epstein and I) signed as being present - we had no support or opposition."
Wright said "threatening" public comments swayed Brockman's - and the board's - decision.
"I wasn't proud of these citizens when I left. To come into a democratic situation and forcefully threaten board members with litigation was appalling," Wright said.
Brockman said he didn't feel intimidated during the public comment portion of Wednesday's meeting, in which some of the approximately 30 citizens who spoke against the proposal hurled statements that board members could face potential litigation and/or would have trouble being re-elected if they were to approve the proposal.
"It didn't affect me at all," Brockman said.
Otto, who presented the proposal at the meeting's start, said he was disappointed with Brockman's vote.
"I think he should vote his conscience," Otto said. "I'm disappointed he sat through eight meetings and didn't let the group know he wasn't in full support of the plan."
Of the more than 200 citizens present Wednesday, about six said they were from Crystal Bay. All but two speakers during public comment were for the proposal's rejection.
With the majority of the crowd against the resolution, many citizens jeered and scoffed when Bob Wolf and Epstein voted "yes."
Epstein stood by her vote Thursday, saying the working group worked too hard on the issue for it not to be brought to a vote.
"During those weeks, we worked together and contributed in terms of participation and what made sense and didn't make sense, and even though Gene and I signed that we were present, I felt that what we were putting forth was good for the community," Epstein said. "I constituted my vote because I believe in the work I've done, which was to find a non-confrontational way to solve this problem.
"I just felt, out of respect for the work we committed to and the respect to all people involved, it deserved to be voted on."
"It didn't affect me at all," Brockman said.
Otto, who presented the proposal at the meeting's start, said he was disappointed with Brockman's vote.
"I think he should vote his conscience," Otto said. "I'm disappointed he sat through eight meetings and didn't let the group know he wasn't in full support of the plan."
Of the more than 200 citizens present Wednesday, about six said they were from Crystal Bay. All but two speakers during public comment were for the proposal's rejection.
With the majority of the crowd against the resolution, many citizens jeered and scoffed when Bob Wolf and Epstein voted "yes."
Epstein stood by her vote Thursday, saying the working group worked too hard on the issue for it not to be brought to a vote.
"During those weeks, we worked together and contributed in terms of participation and what made sense and didn't make sense, and even though Gene and I signed that we were present, I felt that what we were putting forth was good for the community," Epstein said. "I constituted my vote because I believe in the work I've done, which was to find a non-confrontational way to solve this problem.
"I just felt, out of respect for the work we committed to and the respect to all people involved, it deserved to be voted on."
Epstein also voiced displeasure over some of the crowd's comments.
"I found it ironic that people suggested we don't buckle to threats of litigation, but then they turn around and give us threats," Epstein said. "Both sides resorted to threats, and I don't take kindly to threats."
Bob Wolf explained why he voted to adopt the proposal.
"I thought the working group spent a lot of time and effort. It had a hearing, and I felt it deserved a vote too," Bob Wolf said. "It was pretty obvious what way the vote was going to go, but nevertheless, it deserved a vote.
"It shows thorough treatment of the whole issue."
Kroll wrote a letter Thursday morning to the working group members, voicing thanks to Otto, Wright, Andy Wolf, Bob Wolf and Epstein.
He also voiced displeasure toward Brockman and frustration over some of the comments made Wednesday.
"(Wednesday's) bitter rejection of our proposal only adds to my sense of humility that citizens of as diverse a political and philosophical divide as all of us represent could come and reason together, and after so many hours of hard work reach a unanimous conclusion on a plan that we all believed would be in the best interests of the district were it to have been adopted," Kroll said in the letter.
The letter continues: "... I will not disguise my enormous disappointment that you (Brockman) caved in to a majority of the audience that clearly believes 'might makes right,' an exhibition of short-sightedness and anti-democratic sentiment that will prove not only costly to the district far beyond any figures so cavalierly thrown about, but will lose them and IVGID in the end the very treasure they claim to care about so much, the 'privacy' of IVGID's beaches."
"I found it ironic that people suggested we don't buckle to threats of litigation, but then they turn around and give us threats," Epstein said. "Both sides resorted to threats, and I don't take kindly to threats."
Bob Wolf explained why he voted to adopt the proposal.
"I thought the working group spent a lot of time and effort. It had a hearing, and I felt it deserved a vote too," Bob Wolf said. "It was pretty obvious what way the vote was going to go, but nevertheless, it deserved a vote.
"It shows thorough treatment of the whole issue."
Kroll wrote a letter Thursday morning to the working group members, voicing thanks to Otto, Wright, Andy Wolf, Bob Wolf and Epstein.
He also voiced displeasure toward Brockman and frustration over some of the comments made Wednesday.
"(Wednesday's) bitter rejection of our proposal only adds to my sense of humility that citizens of as diverse a political and philosophical divide as all of us represent could come and reason together, and after so many hours of hard work reach a unanimous conclusion on a plan that we all believed would be in the best interests of the district were it to have been adopted," Kroll said in the letter.
The letter continues: "... I will not disguise my enormous disappointment that you (Brockman) caved in to a majority of the audience that clearly believes 'might makes right,' an exhibition of short-sightedness and anti-democratic sentiment that will prove not only costly to the district far beyond any figures so cavalierly thrown about, but will lose them and IVGID in the end the very treasure they claim to care about so much, the 'privacy' of IVGID's beaches."
As for the next phase in the beach access issue, considering the working group is no more, litigation most likely is on the horizon, Wright said.
"All those things litigation-wise stopped and took a break when the focus group was put together. They weren't over - they just took a break," Wright said. "Those breaks are down now and I think a lot of people aren't going to like the direction this thing is going to take.
"We are now entering another reality, and it's not going to be pleasant. At this time, I will say things will happen very quickly ... as for what will happen, only time will tell," Wright said.
In an e-mail statement Thursday, Andy Wolf said the odds of the issue not going to litigation are slim.
"... As we move forward from today, we should all accept that a clear decision has been made to roll the dice and let the chips fall where a court decides they should," he said. "The public's 'beliefs' in the sanctity or invalidity of the deed restriction will have no bearing upon that outcome."
No matter the opinion of Incline and Crystal Bay residents, Epstein said she did the right thing.
"Our board has the mission to serve everyone, which, at the present time, includes Crystal Bay," Epstein said. "Whether they like it or not, when we merged, they became part of IVGID."
Bob Wolf echoed Epstein's thoughts.
"Yes we believe in property rights, but we also believe in community," he said. "I remember when three to four days at a time (during winter) when we're stuck up here, we stick together and help each other out.
"It's kind of that way with Crystal Bay. We're all one district now, and even though they are one thirtieth of our population, they deserve some representation too."
"All those things litigation-wise stopped and took a break when the focus group was put together. They weren't over - they just took a break," Wright said. "Those breaks are down now and I think a lot of people aren't going to like the direction this thing is going to take.
"We are now entering another reality, and it's not going to be pleasant. At this time, I will say things will happen very quickly ... as for what will happen, only time will tell," Wright said.
In an e-mail statement Thursday, Andy Wolf said the odds of the issue not going to litigation are slim.
"... As we move forward from today, we should all accept that a clear decision has been made to roll the dice and let the chips fall where a court decides they should," he said. "The public's 'beliefs' in the sanctity or invalidity of the deed restriction will have no bearing upon that outcome."
No matter the opinion of Incline and Crystal Bay residents, Epstein said she did the right thing.
"Our board has the mission to serve everyone, which, at the present time, includes Crystal Bay," Epstein said. "Whether they like it or not, when we merged, they became part of IVGID."
Bob Wolf echoed Epstein's thoughts.
"Yes we believe in property rights, but we also believe in community," he said. "I remember when three to four days at a time (during winter) when we're stuck up here, we stick together and help each other out.
"It's kind of that way with Crystal Bay. We're all one district now, and even though they are one thirtieth of our population, they deserve some representation too."
