To my colleagues, friends, and the Sausalito community,

After four and a half incredible years serving as your Assistant Engineer and Project Manager, the time has come for me to turn the page to a new chapter. I will be leaving the City of Sausalito to take on a senior engineer leadership role with the City of Novato. While I am excited about this step in my career, saying goodbye to this city, and all of you, is far more difficult than I ever imagined.

Sausalito is a place that stays with you. From the early morning fog on the waterfront to the complex engineering challenges that only a town built on hills and history can provide, this city has been the ultimate classroom for my career.

I look back at the work we’ve accomplished together with immense pride. Whether it was navigating the intricacies of reviewing building and planning permits as well as encroachment permits, the 2024 Roadway Rehabilitation Project, seeing the transformation of the Bridgeway Safety Project, ‘nearly’ completing the Dorothy Gibson House project, providing the City with an assessment report of all its infrastructure, making it more sustainable with Climatec, installing EVCS at City Hall and Dunphy Park, or crossing the finish line on the new EVCS in Parking Lot 2, these weren't just "projects" to me. They were opportunities to make this beautiful city a little safer, more sustainable, and more resilient for the people who call it home.

To my City colleagues: thank you for being my second family. We’ve weathered storms (literally and figuratively), navigated complex utility coordination with PG&E, permit issuances with BCDC, roadway rehabilitation projects, roadway safety projects, one big sewer project, 14 EVCSs, challenging contractors, and managed the high expectations of a passionate community. I am a better engineer and a better leader because of the trust and support you gave me every single day.

To the residents: thank you for your engagement and your patience. Whether we were discussing bicycling safety impacts on Bridgeway, getting your street on next year’s paving list, or getting broken steps replaced and handrails installed, I always appreciated the direct connection and the opportunity to help solve problems for you.

My last day in the office is Thursday, March 19. While I am moving north to Novato, I am leaving a piece of my heart here at 420 Litho Street. I look forward to watching Sausalito continue to thrive, and I hope our paths cross again in the future.

With deepest gratitude,
Ali Iqbal, PE
Ali210@hotmail.com