City of Malibu salaries published Jan. 23 should not be compared to what city employees earn in surrounding communities like Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Calabasas. It’s comparing apples to oranges. Jim Thorsen, our city manager, earns $273,606 plus annual benefits, which is $50,000 more than city managers in those other cities.
Agoura Hills has a population of 20,657 and is 7,822 square miles in size. Malibu has a population of 12,000 and is a very small city – only 27 miles long and a few miles wide.
The other cities Malibu is being compared to are much larger cities. They handle their own business licenses and maintain all of their streets and public amenities.
Malibu’s property taxes, business licenses, public health issues, animal services and a host of other community services are maintained by Los Angeles County.
PCH, our main street, and other main roads, like Malibu Canyon and Kanan, are maintained and funded by Cal Trans and the State of California, leaving our City Manager Jim Thorsen, Public Works Director Bob Brager and Assistant City Manager Reva Feldman twiddling their thumbs.
Christi Hogin, our city attorney, is another story. Hogin became a millionaire during her tenure with the city of Malibu.
A comparison city for the city of Malibu should be the city of Bell.
James Scott