Lewiston City Council Meeting 8/26/26

The Lewiston City Council held a special meeting on August 26, 2026, focused exclusively on the public hearing and final passage of an extension to the moratorium ordinance regarding rent increases for lots and mobile home parks. The council discussed the urgency of extending the moratorium to prevent a gap between the expiration of the current rent freeze and the implementation of a forthcoming rent stabilization ordinance. Public comments highlighted concerns from mobile home park residents about significant rent increases by park owners, particularly Boa Vida, and the financial hardships these increases impose on fixed-income residents. Several speakers urged the council to extend the moratorium to protect vulnerable residents from potential predatory rent hikes. The council voted 4-0 to extend the moratorium effective September 29, 2026, allowing additional time to finalize the stabilization ordinance and avoid a regulatory gap. The meeting underscored tensions between residents and park owners, transparency concerns, and the council's role in balancing business interests with tenant protections.