Adam Politzer

City of Sausalito City Manager Adam Politzer will be retiring at the end of December 2020 after 13 years as the City’s chief administrator. His retirement caps a 33-year career in local government, including 20 years with the City of Sausalito.

Adam was born and raised in Sausalito, which gave him a connection to the community and its history that is unusual for a city manager. His father Bob, an architect, served on the City’s Planning Commission during the original development of the Marinship Specific Plan in the 1980s.

Accomplishments during Adam’s tenure include bringing major improvements to City parks, constructing new public safety buildings, replacing the bulkhead at Spinnaker Point, consolidating the City’s fire department into the Southern Marin Fire District, bolstering the City’s financial reserves to help it weather fiscal shocks like the COVID-19 crisis, and creating a Southern Marin Management Academy for the next generation of municipal leadership.

“None of those accomplishments, and many others over the past 13 years, would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the City’s employees and managers,” he says. “It’s always a team effort, and in Sausalito we’ve consistently been able to assemble one of the best.”

Adam is most proud of the City’s efforts to help those in need, including the launch of the mobile shower service at Marinship Park and the Safe Harbor Program, which helps anchor-outs on Richardson’s Bay transition to slips at local marinas.

After 13 years with the weight of the City on his shoulders, Adam looks forward to spending time with his family, including traveling with his wife Kristen, volunteering at his youngest daughter’s high school, visiting his middle daughter at the University of Colorado, and giving tips to his oldest daughter, who recently started her own career in local government.

Of his next phase, Adam says, “After taking some time off, I look forward to my next adventure, while reserving time to continue to support those most in need.”

Adam formally announced the planned retirement at the City Council meeting on September 22. In his remarks to the Council, he reflected, “What I will miss the most are all of the incredible people I’ve had the opportunity to work with. After all, it’s the people that make Sausalito so special.”

Following the announcement and a round of applause on Zoom, Mayor Susan Cleveland-Knowles remarked, “There will be a lot of time for us all to give you the accolades that you deserve, so we’re not going to start down that path tonight…. While we know that this is hard news for Sausalito, we know that this is also a decision that’s good for you and that you well deserve after all the years of public service that you’ve given.”

Vice Mayor Ray Withy echoed the mayor’s remarks and added, “I know all of your colleagues, all of your peers in the county recognize the leader that you are and what you’ve given.” He also praised Adam’s professionalism in giving the Council more than three months’ notice of the impending departure. “It’s going to take many months for us to find the new city manager.”

When available, details on a retirement celebration for Adam Politzer will be published on the City’s website and in future editions of Sausalito Currents. Best wishes may be directed to apolitzer@sausalito.gov.

WATCH ADAM’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 22
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY MANAGER