The City of Lakeport is looking to help out the residents of Willow Point Mobile Home Park Resort on First St. after the 2017 Flood Event and the damage it caused.
With Willow Point mobile home park still closed as the result of February’s flooding, Lakeport’s City Council decided to extend a relief package for displaced residents.
This week the city decided to allow those affected to work around certain provisions of the municipal code. These include extending the maximum 30 day stay at local hotels, as well as waiving deposit fees associated with sewer and water services.
The city is also transferring $33,000 from the Low Mod Housing Fund into the Emergency Housing Assistance fund to help the flood survivors find temporary or permanent housing. With this transfer and the additional $50,000 provided by the state, the city can support displaced residents with deposits and rental assistance.
Assessment of the damage at Willow Point continues, slowed by high ground water. City officials estimate it will still be a few weeks before a full analysis can be completed.
Kelly Buendia Administrative Services Director said she does not know the process that the hotels will follow but will make sure they make it so those affected can have an extended stay. If a person wanted to come in to City Hall and waive the utility deposit they would have to show proof of Willow Point residence.
“We will do our best to work with the local hotels to make sure that they understand that,” Buendia said. “We are recommending that 90 days be the maximum and that will also get people moved out before the holiday season or the summer season starts so it should workout.”
Lakeport Mayor Stacey Mattina said this process was also followed when the county was hit with fires in 2015 and 2016 and those who were affected or lost their homes needed an extended place to stay.
“It worked really well last time. I don’t think it was taken advantage of or abused in any way,” Mattina said.
Lakeport Council Member Kenneth Parlet said the idea of the 30 day stay is to make sure that a local hotel does not turn into a de facto apartment complex.
“This is just a situation here, where we are allowing people to do what they need to do to get through until they can get back into some kind of livable condition,” Parlet said.
Between the Lucky Four Trailer Resort, Willow Point, Esplanade Neighborhood and Aqua Village Mobile Home Park over 200 Lakeport residents were affected by the flood and out of their homes for over three weeks.
While others were allowed to reenter their homes, the Willow Point has 175 residents who are still prohibited from returning. The prohibition is likely to continue for several months, with the possibility of becoming permanently due to the impacts of flooding in individual homes and severe damage in the underground utilities on the site.
