During one charrette to create a town center for a California community, the fire chief verbally approved the proposed new street sections. The new proposal called for narrower streets with parallel parking in residential areas as well as the town center. A very short time later, he retired. The new fire chief disavowed the street sections approved by his predecessor. Because the agreement was not fully negotiated during the charrette, and because the fire chief retired, unfinished business was left after the conclusion of the charrette that required a significant effort on the part of the planners to work with and educate the new fire chief. 

Lesson: Get it in writing! Use all means to get these agreements completed during the charrette, when everyone is there. If you fail to get an agreement during the charrette, then you will be back to the usual cycle of endless meetings. Remember that the charrette is a special opportunity to conclude negotiations like these.