The City of Arroyo Grande is pleased to announce the appointment of Krystin Rice as the City’s new Director of Community Development. Rice will begin her new role on July 20, 2026.
Rice brings more than two decades of experience leading community development, planning, and development services programs for California municipalities, including Thousand Oaks and Calabasas. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation for balancing thoughtful community planning with responsive customer service, organizational leadership, and effective implementation of complex development initiatives.
As Director of Community Development, Rice will oversee the City’s Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement functions while helping to guide some of Arroyo Grande’s most important long-term initiatives, including the implementation of the General Plan, the achievement of housing goals, and the continued revitalization of East Grand Avenue.
Rice joins Arroyo Grande at a pivotal time as the City advances key housing, economic development, and infrastructure initiatives designed to enhance the quality of life while preserving the community’s small-town character and historic charm.
“Krystin’s background, leadership experience, and commitment to public service make her an outstanding addition to our organization,” said Arroyo Grande City Manager Matthew Downing. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to build consensus, solve complex community development challenges, and deliver results. As Arroyo Grande continues to evolve, her experience and vision will help us elevate the level of service and planning excellence our residents deserve while preserving the character and sense of place that make Arroyo Grande so special.”
Rice holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor’s in Urban Studies and Planning from California State University, Northridge. She has earned recognition for her contributions to longrange planning and community development, including work associated with award-winning planning efforts.
“I am honored to join the City of Arroyo Grande and serve this remarkable community,” said Rice. “I look forward to working alongside City staff, residents, businesses, and the community to help shape Arroyo Grande’s future while preserving the qualities that make it such a unique and desirable place to live, work, and visit.”
With assistance from Peckham & McKenney, the City conducted a competitive recruitment process that attracted highly qualified candidates from throughout the nation. Rice emerged as the clear choice from an exceptionally competitive field of candidates due to her combination of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and demonstrated ability to foster productive partnerships among residents, businesses, elected officials, and staff.