Committee forwards donated vehicle and three state grant authorizations to full council

The Lawrence City Budget and Finance Committee on Oct. 15 voted unanimously to forward multiple items to the full City Council with favorable recommendations, including acceptance of a donated vehicle for the police department and authorizations to expend three state grants.

Vehicle donation: Director Rosa Shepherd, director of support services for the Lawrence Police Department, presented an offer from the National Insurance Crime Bureau for a donated vehicle intended for theft‑deterrence and fraud investigations. The committee moved to forward acceptance of the donated vehicle to the full council; the motion (agenda item 3‑90‑25) was made by the council president, seconded by Councilor Wendy Luzon, and approved in a 4–0 roll call.

PSAP 9‑1‑1 training grant: The committee voted to forward authorization to expend a state PSAP training grant for 9‑1‑1‑related training, listed in committee materials as $179,190.49, to hire a state‑approved training agency and to pay officers for the classes (agenda item 3‑97‑25). Police staff said they have used Commonwealth Police Legacy for this training in recent years. The motion was made by the council president, seconded by Councilor Marmol, and approved in a 4–0 roll call.

Youth services grant (Executive Office of Public Safety and Security): Committee members voted to send to the full council authorization to expend a state youth services grant (agenda item 3‑98‑25). Staff said the amount in the memorandum is approximately $299,861 and that, unlike prior years, the police department will issue a request for proposals to select nonprofit partners rather than preselecting a single agency. Staff said the RFP will require evidence of prior youth service experience and a local match requirement; staff also said the department expects to award subgrants to multiple agencies to provide youth programming and case management.

Votes at a glance (roll call tallies forwarded to full council): - Agenda item 3‑90‑25 (donated vehicle from National Insurance Crime Bureau to Lawrence Police Department): Motion to send to full council with a favorable recommendation; mover: Council President Giovanni Rodriguez; second: Councilor Wendy Luzon; outcome: forwarded (yes: Rodriguez, Luzon, Marmol, Chair Infante). - Agenda item 3‑97‑25 (PSAP 9‑1‑1 training grant, ~$179,190.49): Motion to send to full council with a favorable recommendation; mover: Council President Giovanni Rodriguez; second: Councilor Vivian Marmol; outcome: forwarded (yes: Rodriguez, Luzon, Marmol, Chair Infante). - Agenda item 3‑98‑25 (state youth services grant, staff memo amount ~ $299,861): Motion to send to full council as a final recommendation; mover: Chair Infante; second: Councilor Vivian Marmol; outcome: forwarded (yes: Rodriguez, Luzon, Marmol, Chair Infante).

All motions were unanimous among the members present; absent committee members were noted in the roll calls. Each measure will next be considered by the full City Council.