Lynchburg City Council approved a package of routine and grant-related items, including authorization to accept donor-raised funds for a library bookmobile, acceptance of public-safety grants with required local matches, and the reallocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to complete a Pierce Street tree lawn project.

Friends of the Lynchburg Public Library have secured about $278,000 toward a $300,000 capital campaign to buy the city's first bookmobile, and the council approved treating the donations as a grant appropriation to purchase the vehicle. Library staff said the bookmobile will operate like a branch, serving all wards and visiting nursing homes, day cares, apartment complexes and under-resourced neighborhoods.

The council accepted a Virginia Office of EMS Rescue Squad Assistance Fund award of $71,032 to purchase a Lifepak 35 cardiac monitor and a MediRamp bariatric-transfer system; the grant requires a 50% local match of $35,516 to be funded from the fire department's general fund budget.

The Lynchburg Police Department was awarded two DMV Highway Safety grants. A selective-enforcement speed grant of $30,450 will support targeted speed enforcement and equipment (about $15,050 for overtime, $12,000 for radar units and $3,400 for lidar units) and includes an in-kind match of $15,225 from the department's fuel and vehicle-maintenance budget. A selective-enforcement alcohol grant of $14,070 will fund DUI enforcement, alcohol-testing equipment and training (about $12,900 for overtime, $800 for training and $370 to calibrate preliminary breath tests) and carries an in-kind match of $7,035.

Council also adopted a staff recommendation to reprogram CDBG funds between program years to add a tree lawn, curb and accessible ramps on the 1200 block of Pierce Street. Staff said construction bids came in higher than anticipated and an additional $17,110 is required to complete the Pier Street portion of the Diamond Hill neighborhood improvements.

All of the items were presented by staff and approved by council with routine motions and recorded "ayes." Specific movers and seconders were not recorded in the public transcript provided during the meeting.

Votes at a glance (items approved)
- Bookmobile authorization: Accept donor funds (about $278,000 secured of $300,000 goal); outcome: approved.
- Rescue Squad Assistance Fund grant: $71,032 award; city match $35,516 from general fund; outcome: approved.
- DMV Highway Safety speed grant: $30,450 award; overtime $15,050, radar $12,000, lidar $3,400; in-kind match $15,225; outcome: approved.
- DMV Highway Safety alcohol grant: $14,070 award; overtime $12,900, training $800, calibration $370; in-kind match $7,035; outcome: approved.
- CDBG reprogramming: Reallocate funds to add Pierce Street tree lawn, curb and accessible ramps; additional $17,110 required; outcome: approved.

Why this matters: The actions fund mobile library services and public-safety equipment and enforcement, and they redirect federal block-grant resources to complete a neighborhood streetscape project. The grants include local matches and in-kind commitments that will be met from existing department budgets.