CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The president of the Hamilton County Commission says the Cincinnati Bengals will not use the terms of their lease to kill plans for a new music venue at The Banks.

“They do have a right to share their opinions with us, under the lease,” Portune said from his County office Thursday afternoon. “But that’s a far cry from ‘we’re going to veto what you’re going to do,’ which is how this is being reported. They’ve never said that.”

Both the Hamilton County Commission and Cincinnati City Council are scheduled to vote Monday on a developer for the Banks music venue. The Joint Banks Steering Committee has recommended the proposal made by MEMI-CSO that calls for a $19.25-million dollar, 4,000 seat venue right across Elm Street from Paul Brown Stadium. It may be too close for comfort. Wednesday, Cincinnati Councilman David Mann said he got a surprise visit from Bengals executive Bob Bedinghaus.

“The Bengals are feeling a lot of concern about the the impact on the area. There’s a lot of tailgating there before games,” Mann said.

A memo written Wednesday by Cincinnati City Solicitor Paula Boggs Muething details why that could be an issue. The Bengals stadium lease with Hamilton County gives them some control over the size and height of their neighbors. In the past, the team has reached agreements that let developers build the new GE office building and Radius Apartments. In the memo, Boggs-Muething opines, “To avoid potential litigation, the Public Parties should obtain the Bengals’ consent with respect to any proposed music venue at The Banks.”

Bob Bedinghaus told Local 12 on Thursday that the team has had “ongoing positive discussions with the County Commission and County Administration on this topic.”

The Hamilton County Commission has called a special meeting to vote on a music venue developer Monday morning. Cincinnati City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee will tackle the issue Monday afternoon.

Portune says the goal is to get the process moving forward and have a venue in operation by the fall of 2019.

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