The meeting lasted around 30 minutes Tuesday at city hall, with both intending to "clear the air" after years of disagreements over contentious local issues.

"It was fine," Mandel said. "I don't think 'progress' is the right word ... we had no relationship before the meeting, so I guess one would assume then the relationship would be better after the meeting."

Smith appeared overtly more pleased than Mandel.

"(It went) about as well as I expected it was going to do," she said.

"I wanted to let Mayor Mandel know that the door's open if there are any things that he thinks that I can assist with. I'm more than happy to play that role."

There's been tension between Smith and Mandel since 2010, when Smith waded into the controversial choice to close the city centre airport.

Smith reopened the war of words during the recent election campaign, saying if she became premier she would "revisit" the closure.

Smith's main opposition to the closure is the uncertain future of Medevac air services currently flying out of the airport.
The Wildrose leader previously said if heavy fog descends on the area, the next closest medical aircraft landing site would be in Calgary.

"He assured that they're not going to close the city centre airport until there is another option" at Villeneuve airport, now undergoing upgrades west of the city.

"We're just going to make sure that that happens," she said.

The Wildrose leader also garnered headlines for promising to "suspend" $100 million in provincial funding for the Royal Alberta Museum, and LRT GreenTrip funding.

Smith recently appointed herself cities critic -- meaning Edmonton and Calgary.

She reportedly asked Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi to help broker peace between her and Mandel.

Mandel said the past should remain where it is, and he's going to move forward.

"It's history. I believe it was necessary to clear the air on issues that separated us during the election. We did that," he said.

"We wish her well -- she's a very nice lady -- and we'll move on from there."