Rules committee adopts amendment to require two‑thirds Board vote before spending Rams settlement funds

Alderman Oldenburg told the Legislation & Rules Committee on Feb. 10 that Resolution 245, as amended, would clarify what counts as “AMS settlement funds” and raise the threshold for approving spending from a simple majority to an affirmative two‑thirds of the full Board of Aldermen.

The amendment adopted by the committee defines the funds as money received by the city from the settlement and litigation involving the Rams football team owner Stan Kroenke and the National Football League, including any accumulated interest. Oldenburg said the change is meant to ensure broader citywide participation in decisions about how those proceeds are used and to guard against rushed or politically driven appropriations. “It gives every group, small and large, a voice at the table of how these funds should be exhausted,” Oldenburg said.

Committee members expressed support for the clarification and many asked to be listed as cosponsors. Alderman Narayan said the requirement would help preserve funds for priorities such as tornado recovery and homelessness response and urged alignment among members before appropriations. The committee adopted Amendment 1 by roll call, recorded as five ayes and one no.

After adopting the amendment, a motion was made to pass Resolution 245 as amended out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation; the committee proceeded on that motion in committee (the transcript records the motion and procedural confirmation). The resolution, if taken up by the full Board, would require 10 of 15 aldermen to approve appropriation of the defined settlement funds under the two‑thirds rule Oldenburg described.

The committee recorded no public testimony on the item. Resolution 245 will move next to the full Board of Aldermen for consideration under the amended rules.