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Edmonton officials will start talking with the Katz Group about potential city funding for the Ice District plaza after a tense in-private debate Wednesday at city council.

The debate at the closed-door meeting ended with a public 9-4 vote in favour of at least talking with the Katz Group about its multimillion-dollar pitch.

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Multiple sources speaking on background said the Katz Group started with a $10 million ask, but city officials said they could only see $2 million to $3 million that would qualify for consideration.

City officials brought the matter to elected officials in private, asking if council wanted them to start negotiating with the developer.

Edmonton could pay for public washrooms and electrical upgrades to allow outdoor concerts to be hosted easily. In return, the city could secure public access to the plaza for major events and ensure it was built to be family friendly, possibly including a children’s play area.