SAUSALITO, Calif. – The Sausalito City Council is pleased to announce that at its regular meeting 
on May 5, 2026, it will consider the appointment of Elaine Forbes as Sausalito's next City Manager.
Upon appointment, she will take office on July 1. 

Forbes brings more than two decades of public-sector experience, including nine years as the San 
Francisco Port Director.

“I am honored to be coming home to Marin,” said Forbes, who was raised in the Bay Area, including 
in San Rafael, where she attended Bahia Vista Elementary and Davidson Middle School. “Sausalito 
is a place defined by its relationship to the water, its strong identity, and the deep care its residents 
bring to shaping its future. I am excited to get to work supporting the City’s long-term fiscal 
sustainability, preparing for sea level rise, and building a strong organization that delivers 
exceptional service.”

The Sausalito City Manager is the City’s chief administrative officer, providing leadership and 
organizational direction for City operations.

As San Francisco’s Port Director from 2016 to December 2025, Forbes led a staff of 270 and 
oversaw a complex public enterprise responsible for waterfront infrastructure, maritime operations, 
real estate, public access, and long-term stewardship of public assets. She advanced major capital 
projects, strengthened financial performance, and led long-range planning efforts to address climate 
and seismic risk. She championed the Embarcadero Seawall Program and helped advance a $425 
million resilience bond to address sea level rise and earthquake vulnerability.

During her tenure, Forbes prioritized building a strong organizational culture, advancing workforce 
development, and supporting staff in delivering high-quality public service while celebrating the 
cultural heritage of the waterfront.

Before her directorship, Forbes served as Deputy Director for Finance and Administration and Chief 
Financial Officer at the Port of San Francisco. She also held key leadership roles in public agencies 
in Oakland and San Francisco, including Director of Finance at the San Francisco Planning 
Department.

Earlier in her career, she worked with nonprofit land use and economic development organizations, 
including the Urban Strategies Council and the Western Center on Law and Poverty. She holds a 
Master’s degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. 

“Elaine is a seasoned local government executive who knows Sausalito well and brings an 
extraordinary combination of experience, judgment, and leadership,” said Sausalito Mayor Steven 
Woodside. “We look forward to building on the City’s strong foundation and continuing to address 
the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

Upon her appointment, Forbes plans to collaborate on key strategic initiatives, including long-term 
resilience planning and strengthening the City’s organizational and financial framework.
As we welcome our new City Manager, the City also wishes to acknowledge and thank former City 
Manager Chris Zapata for his service and leadership. We wish him well in his new role as an 
Assistant County Executive with the County of Marin.

Read Elaine Forbes' acceptance letter here.