Safety solutions for downtown Fort Myers

More cops on the streets, drones in the air, and better lighting everywhere to increase safety in downtown Fort Myers.

Mayor Kevin Anderson said one idea is to create a new taxing district to cover the money for the investment.

“Everything’s on the table right now,” Anderson said. “Everything is worth exploring.”

Anderson said the Fort Myers police are short at least 30 officers and it has to change.

“It’s also being able to retain them,” Anderson said.

The solution starts with a larger emphasis on recruiting but the city must offer more competitive pay and benefits.

“We’re committed to keeping downtown safe in a vibrant part of the community,” Anderson said.

WINK News asked councilman Liston Bochette about the taxing district idea and who would need to pay.

“We’ll have to have a little bit of research into what is the cost of it. What’s the return of it. And what’s the logistical hurdles. We have to get through what that means,” Bochette said.

Bochette said if the city creates a taxing district and it’s business owners who have to pay they’re going to want a return on their money.

“Most everyone’s pretty cooperative with paying more to get more, because we all want value,” Bochette said. “It’s the American way you get what you pay for.”

Anderson is determined to make sure homeowners are not going to foot the bill for security upgrades downtown.

“It wouldn’t apply to all the taxpayers, and would most likely be some have a sunset to it,” Anderson said. “So it wouldn’t be forever. It would be limited to a period of time, and then be reassessed.”