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Council moves property-damage claim over fallen boulevard tree to pending for further review
Summary
Property owner Tiffany Rank told the council a city-owned boulevard tree that had been partially trimmed in June 2024 fell in March 2025 and damaged her house and vehicle. The council voted unanimously to move her claim to pending for further investigation of forestry notes and communications.
The Lincoln City Council voted Monday to return a claim by property owner Tiffany Rank — who says a city boulevard tree fell and damaged her home and vehicle — to pending status while staff gather additional records and clarify Forestry Department notes.
Rank told the council she first reported a large limb in June 2024, at which time city crews removed a hanging limb so adjacent road construction could continue. Rank said she was told Forestry would revisit the tree; she said the remaining tree collapsed during a March 2025 storm and struck her house, damaging gutters, siding, windows and one vehicle. She presented photos of the stump and the damaged vehicle during public comment.
City Forester Chris Myers said crews addressed a large hanging limb in late June but that the Forestry notes available at the meeting did not indicate further requested work or a scheduled follow-up. Assistant City Attorney Lily Ely said the law department reviewed Forestry’s records and recommended denial of the claim because the available notes did not show a request for additional work between the June removal and the storm event; Ely said a strong windstorm on March 19 was recorded by staff.
Council members expressed concern about recordkeeping and whether crews told the homeowner when they would return. After discussion, the council voted 7-0 to move Rank’s claim back to pending for additional investigation of Forestry’s work orders and communications rather than rule on the merits at Monday’s meeting.
Council chair Washington and other members said they wanted staff to review the Forestry notes, search for any other communications on the service request, and report back. The motion to move the claim to pending was introduced during the vote on the city’s report of new and pending claims; the council then approved the larger claims report after moving Rank’s claim to pending.
The council did not make a final determination on compensation at Monday’s meeting. Staff told the council they will follow up with Forestry and the law department and return the claim to the council after collecting the additional notes and documentation.
