Monday-morning quarterbacking is a favorite sport. The view from here is clear: The city's years of foot-dragging on repairing derelict sewer networks such as the now-infamous Beach Walk line have exacted a high price.

The Ala Wai and beaches were fouled, and the health of tourists and local residents was put at risk.

What's more important at this stage, however, is developing a game plan for the future. Looking ahead, how can the seemingly endless process of planning, designing and building the sewer fixes be shortened?

City wastewater management officials attempted such a shortcut last summer, proposing an exemption from the law that governs procurement and urging a fast-tracked process for choosing a contractor and replacing the Beach Walk line.

Ultimately, officials decided not to risk a lawsuit over that exemption, which could have further delayed this very crucial sewer fix.

This was an understandable decision, but there's no reason to abandon creative solutions to O'ahu's enormous backlog of repairs.

Officials have set priorities for the repairs, placing a number of sewer lines on the A-list. The city should continue to look for ways to speed construction on projects first in line. An above-ground bypass line, for example, is being planned for Ala Wai Boulevard to carry sewage while the permanent fix is made; that could be a wise safeguard for the most critical jobs.

And officials could look further down the job list for ways to shorten the planning and contractual process; some projects deemed critical must merit streamlining bureaucracy that often delays work for months, even years.

Many projects languished for years in the planning phase while funds were diverted to other city needs; the Hannemann administration has vowed to kickstart as many of these as possible and start crossing them off the to-do list.

That is certainly where the mayor should place his focus today. We've all heard enough about the failures of previous administrations to maintain the sewer system. Now voters should keep tabs to see how well promises are fulfilled on Mufi Hannemann's watch.