EDGEWATER, Fla. — City leaders are weighing a $14.7 million grant that could finally bring relief to Edgewater residents who endure repeated flooding every time heavy rain hits the area.

The funding would be directed toward improvements to the G-2 and G-11 canals — two waterways that cut through flood-prone sections of the city and have long been a flashpoint for frustrated homeowners. The canals are owned and maintained by the county for mosquito control purposes, but they also serve as critical stormwater routes for Edgewater's flood hazard area, draining roughly 350 acres of low-lying, urbanized land.

The problem: when heavy rainfall combines with tidal backflow from the Indian River, the canals are quickly overwhelmed — leaving streets impassable and backyards underwater.

"It gets really bad. People will be on kayaks at certain points," said Edgewater resident Joshua Jamell. "20, 30% of Edgewater will be underwater after certain rains."

Longtime resident Peggy Beauvais tied the worsening flooding directly to unchecked development. "There's been so much development and the infrastructure can't support it," she said. "They need to fix the canals. That's what this city was based on."

Separate from the canal grant, city council was also set to discuss eliminating Edgewater's pet registration fee — a requirement that has divided opinions among residents.