City of Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly, who was elected to the position in November 2024, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
He was charged on summons with one count of assault last year, over an incident in Fitzroy on November 1, 2024.
Jolly's lawyer Tony Hargreaves told the court he had tried to resolve the matter with the prosecution, however "that hasn't succeeded".
He said Jolly admitted he was present at the time of the incident, and "the issue is whether he struck the complainant".
Mr Hargreaves said the matter would proceed to a four-day contested hearing in July, where witnesses will be called to give evidence.
Police prosecutor Nathaniel Gilmore said between 11 and 14 witnesses, alleged to haven been present at the time, will be called to give evidence.
Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano set down four days from July 27 for the hearing.
Outside court, Jolly said he was "looking forward to the court date".
"I'm pleading not guilty, it didn't happen," he told reporters.
"I've got heaps of witnesses that are gonna back me in."
He would have liked for his court date to have been "sooner rather than later" and said court was "probably the last place I want to be right now".
"I can't really, as you know, say too much or anything really about that horrible evening. That's all I can say," Jolly said, as Mr Hargreaves tapped him on the shoulder and the pair left.
He continues to serve as mayor and was first elected to City of Yarra council, which includes inner-Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy and Collingwood, in 2004.
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