Overview
Over the last ten years, Mike Smith has been applying a proactive approach to the Lansing City Administrator position. One of Mike’s goals when taking the job in 1999 was to stop making City Hall “a training ground” for larger communities. Mike's proactive approach to City Administration includes: 

• Opening up communication with Lansing residents, while also promoting communication with surrounding communities. He achieved these goals through the implementation of The Lansing Connection quarterly newsletter and the establishment of LGTV (Lansing Government Television) Channel 2.
• Upgrading the city's website to include more timely information to benefit both residents and business owners.
• Establishing the Fix-it Form, which allows residents to help the city identify a problem in a specified area.
• Retaining current businesses, while recruiting new ones.
• Successfully overseeing the completion of the Main Street System Enhancement Project, which upgraded Lansing's main north / south corridor and facilitated retail expansion in the city.
• Upgrading the city's infrastructure, including the addition of a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility that will handle Lansing's needs well into the next decade.

Department Improvements
Through his leadership and the support of the City Council, the City’s Departments are moving full speed ahead. Each department is striving to make improvements: 

• The Parks and Recreation Department is offering more programming for Lansing residents and now maintains Kenneth W. Bernard Community Park, a 127-acre all-purpose park located 2.5 miles west of City Hall.
• The Public Works Department oversees numerous road improvement and development projects each year.
• The Wastewater Department has operated the city’s state-of-the-art Wastewater Treatment Facility since 2001.
• The Lansing Police Department has a Community Policing Program to reach out to local residents and businesses.
• The new Lansing Community Library is offering more programming at its new location.
• The Economic Development / Convention and Visitors Bureau Department has established the new LGTV: Channel 2, while also working to make the Lansing DAZE event bigger and better.

Background
Mike began his career with the City of Lansing in 1979 as a patrol officer in the Police Department. In four years he rose in rank to Chief of Police and served in that position for 16 years. During his tenure as Chief, Mike initiated and put into place several programs for the City, including:

• The Reserve Program
• Neighborhood Watch
• The G.R.E.A.T. Program
• The D.A.R.E. Program
• The Lansing High School Law Enforcement Academy

Mike also was a founding board member of the Alliance Against Family Violence.