Harvard and MIT officials met with the City Council last night in a rare face-to-face discussion to examine the future growth of the two universities.

While Harvard and the city have experienced strained relations recently over the University's development projects--such as a proposed art museum in the Cambridge Riverside neighborhood--both councillors and Harvard officials said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss concerns on both sides.

"We are going to make this dialogue more regular, and not reactionary," said Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio.

After a thorough presentation by MIT officials followed by a question-and-answer session, the forum turned to a discussion of Harvard's recent initiatives and plans for the future.

"This is like Gladys Knight warming up for James Brown," Galluccio said.

After a brief slide presentation of Harvard's history in Cambridge, Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Paul S. Grogan turned the conversation to Harvard's plans to expand further into Allston where land is more available.

The University purchased 48 acres of land in the Boston suburb this summer, adding to the nearly 100 acres the University had acquired over the previous decade.

"The growth of the University has to take place somewhere else," Grogan said. "We hope that Allston will meet our needs for long term growth."

The council asked for a master plan of the University's proposed expansion in Cambridge. But the University said it was not necessary since only a few more projects remain.

Associate Vice President of Planning and Real Estate Kathy A. Spiegelman said the University's development in Cambridge would center on the proposed Knafel Center for Government and International Study near Mid-Cambridge, the art museum along the Charles River and a few smaller projects.

The proximity of the sites to residential neighborhoods has prompted a series of protests from local residents.

A meeting with Riverside residents about the proposed museum this summer did not stop residents from supporting the Loose Petition, which aims to put a moratorium on all development on the southern edge of the campus for 18 months.

The council will most likely approve the petition in the next month.

While the meeting started the two groups talking, there was still some visible acrimony.

Councilor Marjorie C. Decker blamed the University for not being clear in its proposals to residents.

"You're giving a lot of mixed messages," Decker said.

The meeting got off to a rocky start when Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 complained that Grogan had not yet arrived at the meeting when MIT was about to begin its presentation.

"Maybe it's possible to invite the deans of each of the schools and the director of the art museums since it seems to be where the decisions lie," said Councillor Michael A. Sullivan, in a dig at the University's decentralized administration.

After some tense exchanges, however, the two sides did appear to make progress in creating an open dialogue.

"How do we make deals where you get what you want and we get what we want?" asked Councillor Jim Braude.

Grogan said the self-interest of both sides has to direct discussions between the University and the city.

"We do believe that good relations must be built on self-interest all around to work," Grogan said.