About Colin Baenziger, M.P.A.

Colin Baenziger is a student of local government and is responsible for the overall operations of Colin Baenziger & Associates. Over the years, he has worked with a number of cities on recruitments and on management, operational and organizational issues.

As a former manager and as someone who actively consults with Florida governments, he understands what it takes to operate a government effectively.

In his assignments, he focuses on the positive and finding ways to get the job done in the simplest, most cost-effective manner.

Other significant assignments include:

• Served as the interim manager for the new cities of Wellington and Islamorada during their start-up phases.
• Conducted a planning study of the fiscal impact on the City of Palm Beach Gardens of several development scenarios for its western-most 7,100 acres. The work resulted in a realistic assessment of what type of development would be required if the development was to "pay for itself" in terms of city services.
• Completed an organizational review of the government of the City of Lauderdale Lakes that led to the City changing its form of government to the Council-Manager plan. Mr. Baenziger also worked with a citizen's advisory committee in drafting the necessary changes to the city charter.
• For Palm Beach County, conducted a review of the disposition of impact fee waivers granted to Utility Development Company by the County's Water Utilities and Utility Development Corporation (UDC) to determine how many of the 29,405 waivers granted to UDC in the late 1970's and early 1980's had been utilized by 1998. The work found 29,402 waivers and as a result of his efforts, the County eliminated almost $20,000,000 in liabilities.

Mr. Baenziger also worked with a citizen's advisory committee in drafting the necessary changes to the city charter.

For Palm Beach County, conducted a review of the disposition of impact fee waivers granted to Utility Development Company by the County's Water Utilities and Utility Development Corporation (UDC) to determine how many of the 29,405 waivers granted to UDC in the late 1970's and early 1980's had been utilized by 1998. The work found 29,402 waivers and as a result of his efforts, the County eliminated almost $20,000,000 in liabilities. Other recent efforts include conducting a strategic planning session for the Florida Association of Special Districts, an operational review of the City of Tamarac's water utility, a business practices review for a division of the Martin County Government, and a review of financial procedures for a division of the Marriott Corporation.

Mr. Baenziger has a Master's Degree with Distinction in Public Administration from Cornell University's Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College. He is active in the International City Management Association, Leadership Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach and Broward County Leagues of Cities and ArtServe. With his expertise in municipal government, he has been called upon to speak at the conferences of the Florida League of Cities, the Florida City/County Managers' Association and the Florida Public Personnel Association.

Colin is the father of two sons. The older, Sean, age 27, graduated with honors from Brigham Young University in psychology and from the University of Utan where he obtained his Masters of Social Work. He also is a certifed Firefighter and EMT and has just completed his paramedic training. He intends to be a marriage and family counselor while working in a local government fire department. At 6' 3", a weight lifter and fluent in Spanish along wtih some competency in French. Sean served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala for two years. Colin's younger son, Ian, age 21, is back at Brigham Young University (he does everything his older brother does) after two years as a missionary in the Toronto West Mission in Ontario, Canada, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved the Canadian winters (which is hard to believe) and reported that, with the snow on the trees, it is like driving through a post card. Of course, in January, 30 degrees below is common when you get a bit north of Toronto and he has been a bit chilly on occasion. Quite a change for a Florida lad. Ian is majoring in Computer Science and hopes to be an attorney or conputer science professional. Aside from his children, Colin enjoys reading, travel, exercise, raising orchids and scuba diving.