Malibu council members dig into budget as city manager expands staff Play

Malibu's city budget squeeze is causing city council members to increase their scrutiny.

This morning at 10, two city council members will again go to work to rearrange expenses to meet the reorganization of staff coming from the new city manager, Joe Irwin.

City staff now numbers more than 100, and the annual discretionary budget is around $70 million.

A pay raise is pressed for the city clerk, given her increasing responsibilities. And the city manager proposes to further expand the city's Public Safety Department.

He wants to hire an emergency response manager. This person would concentrate on preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts, and manage the city's emergency notification system.