MURRIETA -- If the mayor of a city sets the tone for how business will be conducted, Murrieta is in store for a year of reserved persistence.

Early this month, Gary Thomasian stepped forward into the position of mayor of the City Council. After presiding over only a few public meetings since, Thomasian said recently that he is not planning to make any procedural changes. He added, though, that he would ask his fellow colleagues to limit their comments to five minutes during public meetings.

Thomasian said he will instead focus on rezoning portions of the city to encourage economic development, bringing high-paying jobs, medical and green technologies, and higher education to the city, and increasing the pace of the city's progress toward its goals.

That, he said, will put Murrieta on the right track.

"You could just grow without much direction," Thomasian said. "Or you can work toward what you want as much as you can and hope for the best."

In spring 2008, Thomasian initiated the formation of a land-use subcommittee. For eight months, he, Councilman Rick Gibbs, and key city employees studied the remaining available land in the city.

Given the recent start of construction on Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta, and the recent approval of a campus for higher education, the subcommittee members said they see Murrieta in a prime position to capture associated businesses.

That subcommittee presented their ideas that development of Murrieta's remaining land could greatly benefit the city most if much of it was used for professional office space, medical and research laboratories and commercial projects such as hotels and restaurants. Thomasian said these discussions are vital in fostering a well-thought-out plan for the city.

"What's different this time around is now we have a new economic director who can give us legitimacy -- real credibility to the types of businesses that could come to Murrieta," Thomasian said.

The mayor's position rotates among the council members. While the mayor's vote carries no more weight than that of any of the other four council members, the mayor sets the tone as to how public meetings will be conducted.

Rick Gibbs, the city's mayor last year, said the position is by and large an exercise in control.

"As the occupant of that center chair, your job really is to be the ringmaster," Gibbs said. "What you're really up there to do is to keep everything moving."

As a councilman, Gibbs said he typically spent between 30 and 40 hours of his personal time each week on city business. As mayor, he said, he stopped counting.

In his new role, Thomasian, admittedly not an extrovert, will be charged with reaching out to potential developers.

To that end, he said he will push for a new marketing logo for the city. Rather than pitch it as "a great place to grow," as the city seal now reads, Thomasian wants promotion material for the city to say "The future of Southern California is Murrieta."

And as council members have involved themselves with organizations and efforts they find important, Thomasian said he will continue his pursuit of establishing new horse trails throughout Southwest County.

Although he says he's felt some trepidation, he plans to push ahead in the position of mayor.

"A year ago I was really hesitant (about becoming mayor) because I didn't know how I was going to do it, and I still don't know how I will do it all. It's a big responsibility, but it helps that I think we're on the right track."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.