Full Document
MINUTES OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE January 12, 2026 AUDITORIUM Present: Councilmembers Kepple, Baker, Bullock, Strebig, Evans, Hamilton Steiner Also Present: Council staff, interviewees, members of the public Call to Order: 6:02 Approval of the minutes of the January 5, 2026 Committee of the Whole. Motion by President Kepple, seconded by Councilmember Baker to approve the minutes. All members voted in favor. Motion passed. Minutes approved. RESOLUTION 2025-77 - A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, appointing __________________ to the Ward 4 seat on Lakewood City Council for the remainder of the four-year term ending December 31, 2027. ( referred to COW 12/15/25) President Kepple established that Council would be conducting four interviews tonight for the vacant Ward 4 Council seat and that each candidate would be allotted thirty minutes for their interview. Pixi Mallo Interview After President Kepple explained the time commitment and workload expectations for a Member of Council, Ms. Mallo affirmed her ability to meet the obligations of the office. In response to a question from President Kepple about her engagement in the Lakewood community, Ms. Mallo spoke about the sense of welcoming and safety she experienced after moving to Lakewood. She spoke about her involvement in the Lakewood community, which included feeding the homeless population and her son’ s involvement in Lakewood soccer. Ms. Mallo provided an opening statement during which she spoke about feeling welcome and safe in Lakewood and how that positive experience has driven her to give back to the community. She spoke about her passion for advocating for those who do not have a voice. Ms. Mallo referenced her lived experience as a transgender person in the current political climate and her desire to step forward and take action. She spoke about the impact of the closing of Studio West. She shared information about her military background and her deployment to the middle east. She stated that her guiding principle is that if you let people show you their kindness, they will. Ms. Mallow mentioned that she brought baked goods for anyone who wanted them. Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E In response to a question from Vice President Baker regarding Ward 4 priorities, Ms. Mallo spoke about some of her goals and ideas for projects to improve the quality of life for Ward 4 residents. Her priorities included improvements to speed bump inquiry responses, as well as thoughtful improvements to the summer food festival at Madison Park such as adding cooling stations and shaded areas. She shared ideas for addressing the loss of the LGBTQ space left by the closing of Studio West, as well as her ideas for a social media series to highlight the city resources available to residents. In response to a question from Councilmember Bullock about neighborhood- level issues faced by Ward 4, Ms. Mallo spoke about the importance of small businesses. She noted that small businesses in Ward 4 are often left out of the spotlight and shared ideas for projects that would call more attention to them. In response to a question from Councilmember Strebig about her motivation to serve on City Council, Ms. Mallo spoke about her lifelong interest in volunteering, political advocacy, and her desire to do more for her community. She shared her intention to continue to move forward with public service regardless of the outcome of the Council seat appointment. In response to a question from Councilmember Hamilton Steiner about balancing the diverse needs of Ward 4, Ms. Mallo spoke about her experiences with diverse groups of people throughout her varied professional life. She shared her principles of listening first, approaching with kindness, then developing a plan of action together. She spoke about her management style and shared her experience of developing an employee into a leadership position. She spoke about her successes in finding common ground with those who speak different languages and have different life experiences. In response to a question from Councilmember Evans about workplace problem- solving, Ms. Mallo shared her approach to building consensus and addressing miscommunications and conflict, describing her approach as gentle yet firm. She provided a recent example from her workplace and described how she worked to facilitate conversation between groups. In response to a closing question, Ms. Mallo summarized her relevant professional and personal experiences and emphasized her passion for advocacy on behalf of those who are unable to advocate for themselves. In response to a follow-up question from President Kepple, she listed several citizen boards and commissions on which she would be interested in serving. Ms. Mallo provided a closing statement in which she reiterated her interest in serving others and addressing the issue of affordability in Lakewood. She concluded by stating her guiding belief that everything that matters to others matters to her. Jason W. Frederick Interview Mr. Frederick provided an opening statement in which he expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to address Council. Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E In response to the opening question from President Kepple regarding the expectations and workload of a Member of Council, Mr. Frederick confirmed that he has the capacity to meet those obligations. In response to a question from President Kepple about his engagement with Lakewood, Mr. Frederick described his participation in many civic groups including his recent re-appointment to the CRAC, as well as on the Public Art Advisory Board, Welcome to Lakewood, and the Anti- Racism Task Force. He referenced several specific projects achieved during his participation in those groups. He shared that he is a graduate of the Citizen’ s Police Academy, as well as a helping hand at kids’ sporting events. In response to a question from Vice President Baker about how he would spend the two remaining years of this Council seat appointment, Mr. Frederick spoke about several projects that he believed could be accomplished in two years. He described listening sessions and town halls that could bring the people of Ward 4 together, emphasizing the need to listen to everyone. He shared his belief in the importance of finding common ground between people in diverse and divisive groups and shared some of his ideas for how to achieve that in Ward 4. In response to a question from Councilmember Evans about building consensus in a work environment, Mr. Frederick stated that he would begin by listening without an ego. He spoke about his professional experience and emphasized keeping the big picture top of mind. In response to a question from Councilmember Hamilton Steiner regarding working with diverse needs in Ward 4, Mr. Frederick spoke about the benefits and importance of diversity. He spoke about some of the challenges facing diverse communities and the divisiveness that can arise in those communities. Councilmember Hamilton Steiner and Mr. Frederickson conversed about the challenges of governance in a city with diverse political and personal belief systems. In response to a question from Councilmember Strebig, Mr. Frederickson stated that his primary goal is to offer his services to the citizens of Ward 4 because he would do the best job he could to prioritize those citizens. He spoke about his familiarization with the wide income disparity in Ward 4. He stated that his personal fulfillment from the Council appointment would come from being able to do some good for the community. He provided more insight into the disparate needs of the residents of Ward 4, pointing out that while some have the time and opportunity to advocate for themselves, others are busy surviving. In response to a question from Councilmember Bullock, Mr. Frederick spoke about the neighborhood- level needs of Ward 4. He shared his ideas to provide resources for children in the age group of 12-16, a group that has aged out of playground structures and is still too young to drive. He described some of the unique needs of this age group and the lack of spaces where they are welcome. He spoke about the idea of creating a youth center or subsidizing membership in an existing space that could meet the needs of this underserved youth demographic. Mr. Frederick then spoke about two of his big-picture ideas, the first of which involved legislation to allow Lakewood to bypass First Energy and manufacture its own energy. His second big-picture idea involved a plan to provide health insurance for all Lakewood taxpayers through the City. Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E Mr. Frederickson provided a closing statement, beginning with his support of healthcare for all. He shared a recent experience in which he was assisted by police and firefighters during an emergency at his home and spoke about the many residents who do not have the funds to pay for a catastrophic illness in their family. He reiterated his passion for finding a way to provide health insurance for the many uninsured residents of Ward 4 and the city of Lakewood. Sydney L. Lightner- Canaday In her opening statement Ms. Lightner- Canaday explained that her path to Lakewood began at a young age when she visited her sister in the City and decided this was a place she wanted to live when she grew up. She said after finishing College she decided that she wanted to build roots in Lakewood and has since been married and began to build her professional and personal foundation here in Lakewood. She then spoke about her lived experience and how that would serve her in the role of Ward 4 Council Representative. In response to a question from President Kepple, Ms. Lightner- Canaday confirmed that she has the capacity to fulfill the role of Councilmember if selected. In response to a question from President Kepple about her involvement with the Lakewood community, Ms. Lightner- Canaday spoke about her experience serving as a volunteer of the Citizens Advisory Committee as well as her professional work at the county and state levels of governance and her political volunteer experience. In response to a question from Vice President Baker about her short- term goals for Ward 4, Ms. Lightner- Canaday spoke about her interest in getting the community more engaged with the planning process for the Madison Park updates. She also spoke about her idea to start a “ Ward 4 Walk Through”, where the Councilmember would walk through different neighborhoods and provide residents with the opportunity to point out needs and concerns in real time. She also touched on some of the challenges impacting the quality of life in Ward 4 such as housing instability and noise nuisances. In response to a question from Councilmember Bullock regarding the neighborhood level needs of Ward 4, Ms. Lightner- Canaday spoke about building code compliance as well as exploring ways that Lakewood can better support safe spaces in the community. In response to a question from Councilmember Strebig regarding her political ambitions, she spoke about how she herself continuing to stay involved in politics and community- based work in some capacity. She said that she is interested in serving on Council because she believes in the community and the work of Council to make the quality of life better for residents. She spoke about her interest in representing the interests of young professionals in particular, so the community can continue to attract younger residents. In response to a question from Councilmember Hamilton Steiner regarding the diverse needs and interests of Ward 4, Ms. Lightner- Canaday spoke about the need to find a balance since not all residents will agree on all issues given the diverse backgrounds of the ward. She emphasized the Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E need to listen thoroughly and welcome disagreements because it challenges people to understand different perspectives while working towards a consensus. In response to a question from Councilmember Evans regarding her work style, Ms. Lightner- Canaday said that she is an easy- going person who listens thoroughly and strives to add productive input. She added that she prioritizes long-term thinking over responding to short term pressures. She said she always aims to find a consensus with colleagues and focuses on getting the work done. Ms. Lightner- Canaday added that she reflected thoroughly before submitting her application, especially considering that she is “ young” for the role as someone under the age of 30. She said she believes her age will allow her to offer a unique perspective and her professional experience will allow her to contribute her institutional knowledge. She also confirmed that she would be interested in serving on additional Boards and Commissions if not appointed. As part of her closing statement, Ms. Lightner- Canaday thanked Council for the opportunity to interview for the role and said it has been a wonderful experience. She said that if appointed she would listen to the residents and work with her colleagues to make decisions grounded in facts and thinking of the community impact. She stressed that the community works best when residents are confident in their local government and she will always be engaged in her community. Matthew Bixenstine In his opening statement, Mr. Bixenstine shared that he has lived in Lakewood for 16 years and he and his wife purchased a home on Clarence Ave 11 years ago where they have established deep roots in the community and their neighborhood while raising their two kids. He spoke about the defining features of Ward 4 and highlighted the various professional and volunteer roles he has held as a community builder. He said he is a champion of public parks, complete streets, tree canopy growth, small business support, affordable housing and community beautification. He said he would welcome the opportunity to continue his community work by serving on Council. In response to a question from President Kepple, Mr. Bixenstine confirmed he as the capacity to fulfill the obligations of Council. In response to a question from President Kepple about his community involvement, Mr. Bixenstine spoke about various roles as a community builder in Lakewood over the past decade. He said that he is the Founder and President on the Friends of Madison Park group and has been involved with many projects to benefit the park such as the Little Free Locker Room, establishing a community garden, designing the adopt- a-spot program outside of Beck’ s pool, developing the Community Chalk Fest event, and collaborating on projects and events with other community groups. He also spoke about his roles as the Founder and President of the Clarence Ave Block Club, a member of the tree Advisory Board, a board member of the Lakewood Soccer Association and his various volunteer roles supporting Harrison School. Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E In response to a question from Vice President Baker regarding his short- term goals for Ward 4 and the challenges he foresees, Mr. Bixenstine identified some of the issues he see that are specific to Ward 4; Neograff noise pollutions, parking issues in Birdtown, a void in the Detroit Ave corridor leading to 117th St and a pair of nuisance hotels in the Gold Coast neighborhood. He said his first order of business that could have a positive impact on all of the issues he identified would be to increase community engagement through expanding Block Clubs in Ward 4. He elaborated on some ideas on how to improve Block Club participation and the potential benefits of doing that. He also spoke about his support of the Complete Streets imitative on a city-wide level and spoke about the challenges of the HAWK signals and offered some suggestions for improvement. In response to a question from Councilmember Evans regarding work style, Mr. Bixenstine said he considers himself a team player that strives for collaboration. He said he believes the key to managing complex relationships is healthy communication that is open and honest and it is ok to have healthy disagreement. He provided examples of collaborating with a wide diversity of stakeholders and spoke about how the Friends of Madison Park worked to strike a consensus between community members when helping to inform the Madison Park Master Plan. In response to a question from Councilmember Bullock regarding managing the diverse needs of Ward 4, Mr. Bixenstine said that he takes great pride that he lives in a neighborhood that is so diverse. He stressed that being a good listener and emphasizing with others is critical to working with diverse populations. He provided examples of projects that he helped initiate in order to serve the diverse needs of the various users of Madison Park, as well as other ways he has championed diversity in his community building work. In response to a question from Councilmember Strebig regarding his political ambitions, Mr. Bixenstine said that the opportunity to serve on Council feels like the natural progression to the work he has already been doing and joked that his neighbors already refer to him as their Council person. He said that he has no political aspirations beyond being involved in Council and that he simply hopes to grow his leadership and to learn from existing Councilmembers. He spoke about the gun violence incidents that happened in Madison Park in the Spring of 2021 and shared how he used his various leadership hats to serve as the voice of reason and help to fill the void in the community. In response to a question from Councilmember Bullock regarding his thoughts about ideas for improvement in Ward 4, Mr. Bixenstine elaborated on his ideas to alleviate the parking issues in Birdtown. He also spoke about how he is not as familiar with the Gold Coast region of the Ward but he would prioritize spending time familiarizing himself with the needs of that area and building new connections. He also spoke about how he would prioritize tree canopy coverage in the private yard space and small business support for the Ward 4 community. In closing, Mr. Bixenstine shared a story about how Madison Park was filled with debris after the destructive storm that happened in August 2024. He said that the Public Works Department was understandably overwhelmed and they gave Friends of Madison Park permission to help with the clean- up. He shared how the park community really stepped up to help clean the park and Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E troubleshoot and used it as a metaphor on how he would like to bring this level of collaboration support to the larger community. Mr. Bixenstine thanked everyone that has supported him in this process as well as the other candidates that have stepped up to serve the community. He said he believes his combination of professional and community experience makes him uniquely qualified for the role, but even if not selected he intends to stay involved in his community. President Kepple made a motion to enter Executive Session for the purpose of considering the appointment of a public official, seconded by Vice President Baker. A roll call vote was conducted as follows: Yeas: Baker, Bullock, Evans, Kepple, Hamilton Steiner, Strebig Nay: none Motion approved. Council entered Executive Session at 7:53 p.m. Council exited Executive Session at 8:43 p.m. President Kepple made a motion to enter the name “ Matt Bixenstine” into Resolution 2025- 77, seconded by Vice President Baker. Discussion: Vice President Baker shared that he was not appointed to Council the first time he applied and encouraged everyone who was not selected to stay engaged. Councilmember Evans said we are lucky in Lakewood to have so many qualified candidates interested in joining Council and he encouraged everyone to stay involved. Councilmember Hamilton Steiner said that she was also not selected for the first Council appointment she applied for and she encouraged everyone to keep going. She offered her support to help the other candidates stay involved. President Kepple echoed what everyone else said and said she is committed to onboarding the new Councilmember and to help guide the three that were not selected. On the motion: President Kepple amended the motion to read “ Matthew Bixenstine”, seconded by Vice President Baker. All members voted in favor. President Kepple made a motion to refer Resolution 2025-77 as amended favorably to the full Council, seconded by Vice President Baker. All members voted in favor. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m. Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E Approved: Sarah Kepple, Chair Committee of the Whole Maureen M. Bach, Clerk of Council 1/20/2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 3D47D63C- 0E54-4ADF- A884-7A510F15A09E