Council President Griffin convened a lengthy committee discussion that concluded with a committee recommendation to send an amended settlement ordinance (13‑25) to the full council tonight.

The ordinance implements a settlement term sheet between the city and the Haslam Sports Group covering the Browns' proposed relocation to Brook Park, demolition and site preparation of Huntington Bank Field, and a lakefront development program. The administration told members the deal guarantees an upfront payment and a schedule of community benefit payments; under the final amended term sheet those payments were adjusted so $20 million (four payments of $4 million) is directed for lakefront/development and neighborhood priorities rather than the $25 million schedule previously described.

Former Mayor and U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich testified in opposition, calling the proposed settlement “a fraud upon the city” and urging council to press legal claims and explore alternatives including enforcing the Modell law or organizing a public purchase. Kucinich said the Browns' departures would cost downtown an estimated $30 million a year in economic activity and $11 million a year in direct tax revenue, and argued the city could have pursued greater damages for alleged lease violations.

Administration leaders replied that they had negotiated for three years and that discovery and litigation had placed practical limits on outcomes. Law department and administration representatives said they had added clarifications and protections at council's request, including: a 30% Cleveland business participation target for demolition contracting with a 20% Cleveland small business/MBE goal, adherence to the city's equal opportunity codified ordinance and prevailing‑wage rules for demolition work, a clearer definition of "pad ready" demolition scope, and language to ensure council authority to approve the use of community‑benefit funds. The administration also said the settlement contains no requirement that the city pay to move the team.

The committee adopted a package of amendments proffered by council members, including the change to the community‑benefits payment schedule and insertion of a dedicated fund number; the amendments passed in committee with two members recorded as voting no. After the vote the chair confirmed the ordinance as amended will be heard by the full council tonight.

Council members asked for — and in several cases did not receive — independent engineering evidence showing the city cannot reuse the existing stadium; the record includes a 2024 Osborne Engineering study referenced by counsel estimating major costs for continued operation and repair. Members also debated whether dismissing litigation now reduces leverage under the Modell law and whether the city should have delayed dismissal until project milestones were verified; the administration replied the settlement yields guaranteed funds now and provides legal mechanisms (including arbitration remedies) to enforce contract terms.

What happens next: the committee's recommendation sends the amended ordinance to the full council for a floor vote. If council approves the ordinance tonight, the settlement terms and the attached term sheet (with the amendments adopted in committee) will be the basis for final agreements and near‑term lakefront work. If council rejects the package, the administration said that would return the parties to litigation, with uncertain timing and potentially higher legal costs.

Representative quotes from the hearing include: "This is a fraud upon the city," from former Mayor Dennis Kucinich; and the law director and administration: "We listened and we have clarified these terms to strengthen protections for Clevelanders," (Law Director / Administration remarks).