UNIVERSITY PLACE - The controversy over bullets that ricocheted from the Tacoma Rifle and Revolver Club took center stage at City Hall on Thursday.

For the first time, concerned homeowners sat face to face with city leaders, as well as the gun club's president, Mark Harbaugh. The meeting was a neighborly gesture, but the tone was tense.

"We want to be good neighbors," Harbaugh said at the meeting.

John Barnes, whose house sits right above the range, said that's what he wants, too - good neighbors. Barnes pressed for a solution after two bullets from the club's range recently landed on his property.

But the city attorney said that the problem of ricocheting bullets does not amount to a public nuisance or a criminal offense. Maybe so, said Barnes, but it's still a public safety hazard.

"No bullets are supposed to exit the range," he said.

With each past complaint, the club has made changes. It graded the range down and added 14 inches of hog fuel. The club also placed sandbags behind the walls to absorb the impact. The city attorney commended the club's quick response to complaints.

Club President Harbaugh wouldn't comment on what changes may be ahead, but neighbors had plenty of suggestions.

"The indoor range would be the best. And that's going to cost them money and I think they have the money to do that," Barnes said.

"I believe they're doing this but I don't know if it's going to be enough," said Les Whittles.

The city attorney will compile a list of possible solutions to the problem and present the list to the city council. The city council will then decide on a solution, but only if it decides to take any action at all.