Rancho Palos Verdes Names New City Manager

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — Rancho Palos Verdes named Ara Mihranian, a veteran urban planner and more than 21-year employee of the city, as permanent City Manager.

The City Council voted unanimously in a closed session meeting Tuesday evening to select Mihranian for the City Manager position. He has served as interim City Manager since former City Manager Doug Willmore retired in November 2019. His appointment comes after a four-month executive search by Peckham & McKenney, Inc., the City of Rancho Palos Verdes press release said. The terms of his contract will be considered by the council on February 18.

"Ara Mihranian has grown with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to become a tremendous leader," Mayor John Cruikshank said. "Our City Council interviewed four deserving candidates, and Ara came out on top. I am very proud of Ara as I know he will serve us well as our new City Manager."

Mihranian said he is honored and humbled to serve the city he "deeply cares about" as City Manager. He was previously Director of Community Development from 2016 to 2019. He joined the City as an associate planner in 1998 after holding the same position in Malibu, the press release said.

"I am grateful for the City Council’s and community’s support, and appreciative of the mentorship I received from my predecessors. I am excited to be part of leading our great city’s future," he said.

In recent years, Mihranian oversaw the completion of the City’s General Plan update and the Natural Communities Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan, the press release said. He was honored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors during Armenian History Month in April 2019 for his contributions to the Armenian community in Los Angeles.

Mihranian grew up in Santa Monica and Northridge, and earned a bachelor’s degree in urban
planning from Arizona State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.