A mayoral adviser said he was encouraged by the gathering.

Since then, leaders of the coalition have met with city negotiators only twice, according to labor leaders and mayoral advisers.

Some mayoral advisers argue that the firefighters essentially settled for two 15-month contracts, the second at no raise.

"Rudy thinks very highly of Herman," a mayoral adviser said.

But, as one top mayoral adviser said yesterday, the Mayor told him that "I want to announce something good."

"To say this was a fast-moving issue is obvious," said one mayoral adviser.

Top mayoral advisers and members of the Council said last night that they expected the commission to approve an increase.

This compromise, "gets things going," a mayoral adviser said last night.

"Remember, we were asking for double zeros here," said one former mayoral adviser.

The higher taxes proposed by the Mayor have been in the city's long-range fiscal plan since at least last year, a mayoral adviser said.