Resident urges Fort Myers to hire flood‑prevention consultants and plan beyond grants

Anne Martindale, a Fort Myers resident, used the public‑comment period to urge the council to take a more proactive, large‑scale approach to flood prevention and seawall work. She thanked public works for recent response efforts but said the city should not rely solely on grants that can take years to process; she proposed hiring engineering consultants with experience on large coastal projects to present options and suggested appointing a task force or assigning responsibility to city leadership.

Martindale also asked for clarity about FEMA seawall grant submissions and who is reviewing them. "I hope I didn't misunderstand that," she said, referencing a prior workshop update where staff said some FEMA grant work was "still under review." She pressed for faster planning to prepare for future storms and urged the council to consider large‑scale alternatives and technical expertise rather than waiting for grants to percolate through the system.