Council accepts report of new and pending claims after testimony about a tree-damage claim and a bus injury

The City Council on July 21 accepted the report of new and pending claims against the city for June 16–June 30, after hearing two residents who spoke during the public hearing on claims.

Tiffany Rank (recorded as a property owner) asked the council to reconsider the city’s denial of a claim for damage to her property when a tree partially collapsed last year and again after a storm in March. Rank said forestry staff cleared the most hazardous limb in June 2024 but that a full inspection and follow-up record did not appear in the city’s asset management notes. "When forestry came out, they were only able to take out the part of the tree that was immediate danger. They said they would be back to look at the rest of the tree, and we never heard anything regarding that," Rank said.

Parks Director Maggie Stuckey Ross said the city’s record shows a June 24 call for a large hanger and that a crew visited the property on June 25 to remove the immediate hazard. The city forester later told staff he did not recall a conversation in which forestry told the homeowner it would return, and there is therefore no record of a promised follow-up. Councilor Saundra Washington suggested the city consider updating internal processes so that a written record is kept when crews remove a hanging limb, to avoid ambiguity about whether further inspection is needed.

The council also heard from Kim Schwartzman, who said she was injured aboard a city shuttle after being thrown when the bus braked. Schwartzman described a subsequent medical diagnosis of a compression fracture (L1) and said she sought reimbursement for co-pay and related costs. Elizabeth Elliott, director of LTU, and other transit staff confirmed there is video of the incident; LTU staff said the video shows a bus operator applying the brakes in response to nearby traffic and that the vehicle’s operation did not appear to be outside normal expectations.

Council action and next steps

The council voted to accept and approve the report of new and pending claims, and the motion carried 6-0. Council members asked city law and staff to revisit specific claim documentation and noted the need for clearer forestry records when crews remove hazardous limbs but do not indicate whether additional inspection or follow-up is planned.

Quantities and clarifications

- Rank indicated she was seeking damages for 1 of 2 vehicles, the house (two windows, a screen, railing, roof, gutters and siding) and believed the estimates she submitted totaled about $9,914 for some items (she said that amount "sounds about right"). - Rank told staff her first call about the hanging limb was in late June 2024 (the record shows a call on June 24 and a crew visit June 25) and a follow-up call was made in March 2025 when more of the tree came down. - Schwartzman described a compression fracture treated with vertebroplasty and said she was seeking reimbursement of medical co-pays (she referenced figures in the meeting record that she presented; specific totals were described in testimony but not independently verified at the meeting).

Councilor Washington explicitly noted the need to update the forestry ticketing and record process so that crews documenting removal of a hanger also leave a written record if additional inspection would be required.

Ending: The report of pending claims was accepted; claimants were invited to work with city law and staff to pursue documentation and any reconsideration steps.