She is a registered nurse at Sparrow Hospital and was inducted into the Michigan Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2010. 

The State News sat down with the longtime council member to discuss her time as a city official.

What are you most of proud from your stint on City Council?

Goddeeris said when she was first elected she had plans to revitalize the downtown, stabilize neighborhoods and move towards a more sustainable community.

She said revitalizing downtown can be seen in projects constructed during her time such as Ann Street Plaza or Stone House Village

"These are some of the kinds of ideas that we want to have to build our downtown. If you look at recent events also like the rally for the ally initiative to try and have vibrant spaces to gather and come to downtown in," Goddeeris said.

As far as stabilizing neighborhoods, Goddeeris said the city added staff liaisons to work with each neighborhood association and switched from having all paper materials to all online with readily-accessible materials so decision making by council is more transparent.

Since Goddeeris was appointed, the city has worked on a number of projects to build sustainability in East Lansing, including a more efficient city fleet, curbing energy use in city-owned buildings, bringing LED light bulbs to parking structures and rolling out a new recycling program.

What are the issues the newly elected council will have to take on?

Goddeeris said the first issue the new council will have to address is pension liabilities — an issue she said cities around the country are facing. 

"It will be challenging to continue to make sure we have money put into those accounts in addition to the health care accounts while balancing the needs of the city's infrastructure needs," Goddeeris said. "It will be the challenge for the next ten years. Not just this council, but the next council."

The next issue Goddeeris said needs to be addresses is that of the vacant buildings on the 100 block of Grand River Avenue near Abbott Road.

"It's property we don't own right there on Grand River and so they will have to be very careful in how to approach the next steps so that we get a future project to completion," Goddeeris said. "Hopefully there won't be another recession that stalls that and other projects that may go on."

What advice do you have for new council members?

"Always listen and listening doesn't necessarily mean doing exactly what people at the podium tell you to do. Listening means being out in the community, out at your liaison position, listening to people at soccer games and the grocery store telling you how they feel and getting their input," Goddeeris said. 

"To make a decision you have to have multiple inputs not just at the open comment at city council meetings. In addition, read all the materials and do lots of research."