Mayoral aides have said it will cost perhaps $4,500 per person.

That, mayoral aides said, left the Council with nothing to vote on.

Mayoral aides said that from 100 to 200 new workers would be hired at a cost of about $8 million.

About 25 percent of the senior management positions in the administration are held by women, mayoral aides said.

Mayoral aides say they have gotten more from labor than any previous administration.

Mayoral aides said the Council simply wanted to spend more than the city could afford.

Other mayoral aides are also taking active roles on education issues.

"It is interesting now for someone like him to end his administration helping bring these groups together," one mayoral aide said.

Cuts in some agencies could range up to 25 percent, mayoral aides have said.

The participants were several top mayoral aides and the administration's council of outside economic advisers.