"It's a two-way problem. It's his style of communicating and the fact that they've let this go on for so long. But more people are being effected than just Gary. He's not just stirring it up," Russell said, adding it's not just a "one man, one street, one neighborhood" issue. "I wish it hadn't gotten to a point where it feels so adversarial."

Ricci chose not to attend the meeting, so it wouldn't look like a one-person issue. He heard a tape recording of the meeting, however, and said he was disappointed the council isn't treating it more seriously. He said the current ordinance is "prehistoric," particularly in high-retail areas.

"It's frustrating to come to them with an honest issue and have them paint me as a bad guy," said Ricci.

James Bennett, environmental health compliance officer with the health department, said Sandy is one of three cities in the county that has adopted a stricter noise curfew than department standards. Sandy's ordinance begins at 9 p.m. and ends at 7 a.m.

"I know that there's noise, but the noise measurements that have been taken barely registers on the meters," said Bryant Anderson, council chairman.

Councilman Steve Smith said the council has a difficult job trying to balance the rights or commercial and residential.

Anderson said he is in a tough spot because he voted against rezoning the plot of land where Little Cottonwood Center sits to commercial to begin with.

"I find myself in a position trying to defend something I wasn't originally in favor of," he said. "It's a little awkward."

City staff plans to work with the health department in forming new provisions for the ordinance. Another community or council meeting updating the progress could happen in the next few months.

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E-mail: astowell@desnews.com