This Action Plan was developed following a survey of public works and street superintendents. It incorporates the major issues, suggested solutions and proven management techniques. It assumes budget cuts, increased workloads, increased operating costs and the desire to improve responsiveness are the major issues facing street departments today.

It also assumes community support, especially among city councils or county commissions. Without this support, operational managers are unable to effect change. Change is a difficult process and there is a tendency to remain status quo. But, the old ways of doing business won't work today. Cities no longer just allocate funds between departments and operate in today's economy. City decisionmakers from the mayor and city council to the department heads must adopt a proactive approach to improve operations and save money.

And finally, this plan assumes implementation must be a simple process. Superintendents operate with limited time and money. They have a job to do and can't spend unreasonable amounts of time or money reinventing their departments.

This Action Plan supports five objectives:

 •Control Costs
 •Improve productivity and efficiency
 •Improve responsive and effectiveness
 •Improve management control
 •Streamline operations