City Council Meeting

3/23/26, 3:29 PM Civic Review - Permit & Licensing Software City of Bellevue Printed: 03/23/2026 Bellevue City Council Has No Permit/License # Legal Authority to Change the 4248300 Water Bond and Source Reference Number Materials 70ade830-23ee-11f1-9ad6-8331b7c0d21b 03/23/2026 - 03/22/2027 Status Active Public Comment Application Status Complete Application Review Status Final-Review Approved Date Submitted 03/19/2026 Date Approved/Denied 03/23/2026 Fees Payments There are no fees There are no payments Application Form Data (Empty fields are not included) First Name Suzanne Last Name Wrede Contact Email swrede@innercore.net Address 24 Muldoon Canyon Road City Bellevue State ID Zip Code https://app.civicreview.com/permits/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971736/terms/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971739/print-permit 1/4 3/23/26, 3:29 PM Civic Review - Permit & Licensing Software 83313 Meeting Type (optional) Common Council Meeting Date (optional) 03/23/2026 Agenda Item (optional) Adoption of Resolution 26-11 Comment Subject Bellevue City Council Has No Legal Authority to Change the Water Bond and Source Materials Please record your comment My name is Suzanne Wrede, and I am a resident of Bellevue. I am submitting this comment for the official record. I want to state clearly that I do not believe the Bellevue City Council has legal authority to approve the changes contained in Resolution 26‑11, because these changes materially alter the voter‑approved Water Revenue Bond project. The Drinking Water Facility Plan — specifically the Technical Draft — was the entire premise of the bond. It defined the project, the scope, the engineering basis, the regulatory requirements, and the cost. The Mayor’s May 16, 2024 letter to residents made this explicit. Changing the Facility Plan is changing the bond. Two components of that plan — SS‑1 (Spring System Reconstruction and Relocation) and LE‑1 (Seamans Creek Land Purchase and Easements) — were the core promise made to voters. They were not optional. They were the justification for the bond amount. In the former Mayor’s own words from his May 16, 2024 letter to residents advocating for the water bond: “The main objective of the water project is to improve the spring collection system, move the collection line from private property to the county road with an access easement and reduce the significant amount of water loss…” Residents were told: > the spring system is our primary water source, > it sits on private property, > the City lacks secure legal access, > the system has multiple significant deficiencies, > it is not sealed, not secure, and not compliant, > it must be relocated into the county road, > the City must obtain legal easements, > and the system must be rebuilt, not patched. https://app.civicreview.com/permits/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971736/terms/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971739/print-permit 2/4 3/23/26, 3:29 PM Civic Review - Permit & Licensing Software These were the reasons the bond was approved. The revised plan now abandons or downgrades all of these commitments, while keeping the same bond amount. The spring system stays on private property. Easements are eliminated. Reconstruction is replaced with “rehabilitation.” Significant deficiencies remain unaddressed. Security, sealing, drainage, sampling, and compliance improvements are removed. This is a substantial downgrade in what residents receive for the same money. => Under Idaho law, this is a material change to a voter‑approved bond project. => A materially reduced project requires a materially reduced bond. => A materially reduced bond requires voter approval. The City Council cannot approve a downgraded project and keep the original bond amount. Finally, the City’s memo states that DEQ requested that the Council “acknowledge and accept” these changes. DEQ does not have statutory authority to empower the City Council to approve material changes to a voter‑approved bond. Only the voters can authorize such changes. I am placing this comment on the record to ensure it is clear that: 1. The City Council has no legal authority to approve these material changes. 2. DEQ has no legal authority to request or accept a City Council resolution in place of voter approval. 3. The City has been formally notified that proceeding with Resolution 26‑11 lacks a lawful basis. Thank you. Signature I agree that the facts stated in this submission are true, and upon changes I will provide notification as needed. Electronically Signed Suzanne Wrede - 03/19/2026 5:50 pm https://app.civicreview.com/permits/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971736/terms/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971739/print-permit 3/4 3/23/26, 3:29 PM Civic Review - Permit & Licensing Software https://app.civicreview.com/permits/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971736/terms/69bc8bd2ffbbe570ea971739/print-permit 4/4