Ten residents in all applied for the three positions, including Michael Flores, who ran for city council, and Jack Walker, who recently left his seat on the city council because of term limits.

The appointments at the Jan. 6 council meeting of Jim Fussell, Larry Klein and Brandon Sulser brought the commission back up to full strength in time for its Jan. 12 meeting. Each said he is excited about getting to learn more about how Sunnyvale works, and putting his own—hopefully positive—stamp on the city he lives in.

First appointed was Jim Fussell, 32, a former candidate for city council who grew up in Sunnyvale after being born in Mountain View. He said he was motivated to seek both council and commission positions by an underlying desire to serve the community he grew up in.

"It's home to me. I'm constantly going to the store and running into people I grew up with," Fussell said. "It's a small-town feel in the large environment we call the Bay Area."

Fussell said his biggest interest is growth and development in Sunnyvale and making sure that the community feel and quality of life in town grows along with the business and industrial aspects.

"I want to preserve the community aspect of Sunnyvale, but I'm a realist about it," he said. "I realize that Santa Clara County and the Bay Area are popular places for people to come to."

Klein, 37, who lives and works downtown, was appointed—like Fussell—to serve until the 2006 appointments. He said he applied for the position after almost a year and a half of closely watching the city's growth and development.

"I live in Sunnyvale for a reason, so being able to help form what the city becomes is a big deal," Klein said.

Klein said he's excited about getting to serve the community and doesn't plan on leaving his position any time soon, although many people look at the commission as the first step to eventual city council positions.

"I could see myself being there for many years, just for what it brings, being able to help shape your community," he said.

Like Fussell and Sulser, Klein said he is excited to learn about how Sunnyvale works behind the scenes, in the planning and land-use stages.

"It will be a learning experience for all of us new commissioners," Klein said. "But it won't be long before we're taking the reins."

The third new commissioner, Brandon Sulser, 28, also grew up in Sunnyvale, but moved around before settling here in what he says is his fourth official time living in the city.

A self-proclaimed activist, Sulser said he is active in the Sierra Club as well as the Democratic party. He is also currently enrolled in Leadership Sunnyvale. His interest in land-use issues is what brought him to the commission, for a term to end in 2005.

"I just think it all comes down to land use," Sulser said, "and planning commission is kind of ground zero for that."

Sulser said he is nervous about the upcoming year, but he thinks that is a natural feeling to have at this point.

"I would hope anyone in my shoes would have some worry," he said. "There's a lot of responsibility; you don't want to be the guy who screws up Sunnyvale for a generation."

Like Fussell, Sulser said he has entertained thoughts of a future on the city council, but wants to make a difference at the planning commission before even thinking of a next step.

"For me, even if I decided to do something like that, I would want to serve a respectable amount of time on the commission," he said.

With continued business and residential development, especially in the downtown area, poised to come into play this year, Sulser and the other new commissioners each acknowledged that they're going to have a number of important decisions to make.

"It's exciting to be in a position where you can walk down the street and see a project that you had a hand in," Fussell said.