Lilly Whalen Moves On and Up After 13 Years with the City of Sausalito
Post Date:10/08/2021 5:45 PM
Longtime City of Sausalito employee Lilly Whalen has accepted the position of community development director for the City of Pinole. Her last day on the job in Sausalito was Friday, October 8.
The move was announced by City Manager Chris Zapata at the City Council meeting on September 28. Despite his best efforts, Chris was unable to persuade Lilly to resist a job managing a bigger team for a larger city from an office that is only minutes from her home. Lilly and her husband Jack live in unincorporated Contra Costa County with their two young children.
Lilly has been Sausalito's community development director since July 2018. Previously, she served as city clerk/assistant city manager, deputy city clerk, administrative analyst, and associate planner. She began her career in Sausalito in 2008 as an assistant planner.
Lilly's accomplishments over the past 13 years include leading a multi-year process to update the City's general plan, directing the public engagement process for the expansion of the downtown ferry landing, gaining state recognition of Sausalito's water-based housing, guiding two housing element updates, leading projects to digitize City records, and launching a virtual service counter to maintain planning and building services during the pandemic.
Reflecting on her time in Sausalito, Lilly says, "While I am looking forward to new challenges engaging with a community closer to home, I will be forever grateful for the many unique opportunities I have been afforded by the City of Sausalito to not only grow my professional planning prowess but develop a whole host of other skills and talents I didn't know I had. Most importantly, I have developed strong professional and lasting personal relationships with teammates, colleagues, councilmembers and commissioners, and many others who make up the Sausalito community. My time in public service in Sausalito has forever carved a very special place in my heart and will not be forgotten."
City Clerk Heidi Scoble, formerly the planning and building director for the Town of Ross, will serve as acting community development director while a search is underway for Lilly's replacement.
Farewell messages to Lilly Whalen may be sent to cdd@sausalito.gov.
