A former Port San Francisco director who was recently hired as Marin County’s city manager has been arrested on burglary charges, authorities said.
City officials in Sausalito, where Elaine Forbes began her job as city manager on July 1, said the weekend arrests were “a difficult development for our city staff and our community.”
The Marin Independent Journal, citing Lt. Sheriff’s Domenick Yazzolino said authorities received a call about a burglary and found Forbes inside a boat that did not belong to him. Marin County Jail records show Forbes, 53, was arrested at 6:50 a.m. Saturday at 501 Humboldt Ave., which is home to the Sausalito Yacht Harbor offices.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office referred questions to the Sausalito Police Department, which referred questions to the city’s spokesman, Joe Vazquez. Vazquez referred to a statement from the city, which said officials do not comment on specific allegations.
Forbes was being held on $50,000 bail.
A statement released on behalf of Forbes and his family said Forbes was “suffering from mental health issues.”
“We ask that no one rush to judgment based on limited information,” said the statement, released by family spokesman Sam Singer. “As the facts emerge and Elaine receives legal and health care advice in the coming hours and days, we hope people will respond with compassion, patience and respect for her and her family during this incredibly difficult time.”
The statement said “Forbes has devoted much of his life to public service and is held in high esteem by the many people he has worked with over the years.”
The arrests came two days after the Sausalito City Council held a special meeting, privately discussing the performance of Forbes employees, according to the plan.
On Sunday, the city said in a statement that it authorized Forbes not to attend Thursday’s meeting. The City Council is expected to “discuss next steps” at its next meeting on Tuesday.
The Sausalito City Council voted unanimously on May 5 to hire Forbes, who officially started his job on July 1. His salary was set at $275,000.
“Forbes brings more than two decades of public sector experience, including nine years as Port San Francisco Director,” the city of Sausalito said in the spring of his hiring. “Coming back to Marin is coming home – Forbes lived in San Rafael as a child.”
“I am honored to return home to Marin,” Forbes said in a spring statement. “I am very excited to begin work to support the city’s financial sustainability, prepare for sea level rise, and build a strong organization that provides quality services.”
Forbes was the director of Port San Francisco from 2016 to 2025. Among the issues he oversaw during his tenure was the need to improve the seawall near San Francisco’s Embarcadero, which was built more than a century ago and is vulnerable to major earthquake damage. Earthquake tremors can damage boats, rigs, buildings and the road above the seawall.
Forbes was also a prominent figure in the proposed redevelopment of Fisherman’s Wharf, envisioning a public plaza and adding new views and lighting to the wharf’s inner lake.
