Brandy Forbes Joins RPV as Director of Community Development

RANCHO PALOS VERDES— The City of Rancho Palos Verdes this week welcomed Brandy Forbes, a veteran urban planner, as director of community development.

Forbes started Sept. 25 leading the department that oversees land-use and planning throughout the City. She joins RPV from the City of Redondo Beach, where she held the same position since late 2018, managing major projects such as the South Bay Galleria redevelopment and the state-certified update of the city’s general plan housing element.

Prior to her work in the South Bay, Forbes served as director of community development in Hoboken, New Jersey for nearly a decade. She succeeds former director of community development Ken Rukavina, who retired in 2022, and brings over 25 years of experience in city planning and administration in California, New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington.

“I am thrilled to join the team at Rancho Palos Verdes,” Ms. Forbes said. “This is an exciting opportunity for me to bring my skills in Community Development to such an engaged and outstanding community.”

City manager Ara Mihranian said Ms. Forbes’ diverse planning experience will be an asset to Rancho Palos Verdes, especially as the City takes on important housing and zoning matters. “Her extensive background and illustrious career will prove to be beneficial and pivotal in protecting and preserving the community’s quality of life and supporting our residents and businesses as she leads the Community Development Department,” he said.

Ms. Forbes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a Master of Arts degree in urban and regional planning, both from the University of Iowa. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.