ABSTRACT
This chapter presents guidelines that represent a distillation of the authors’ experiences as well as the experiences of a number of local-government practitioners throughout the country. Each guideline has a purpose and a primary audience. There are important reasons why this guideline, as obvious as it may seem, is often neglected. Recognizing power where it exists, this guideline, is often abandoned or, worse, never even considered, because reformers are not likely to be openminded about the possibility of working with other factions that have the power to bring about change. Creating a sense of due process recognizes a fundamental principle of public decision making: the way in which a decision is made often affects the ability to implement it successfully. Getting a city or county to do something often requires the interaction and cooperation of many different individuals, institutions, and community groups. Simply stated, achieving a desired change may depend on the ability to put together the right coalition.
