What to know about what Milwaukee allows and bans in the RNC security zone

With a vote of the Milwaukee Common Council Tuesday, the brief debate over whether the city should try to ban guns in the vicinity of July's Republican National Convention came (nearly) to a close.

The council adopted an ordinance that bans dozens of items from tennis balls to drones to fireworks in the security "footprint" around the restricted area that will surround the main RNC event venues downtown.

Most guns will not be banned, however, because of a state law that prevents the city from putting such prohibitions in place.

"I think everyone would feel uncomfortable with guns there, but we can't violate state statute," Council President José G. Pérez said after the meeting. "We were advised by our city attorney, and we expect the Police Department and all the other entities working and organizing the RNC to make sure it's safe for everyone. But it is a concern."

The ordinance also requires Mayor Cavalier Johnson's signature to go into effect. He will sign it, according to his spokesman.

Here's what those looking to enter the security footprint should leave at home, what won't be banned and how zoning rules will change during the July 15-18 convention:

Where and what is the security 'footprint' for the RNC?

The expected area extends from Cherry Street to the north to West Clybourn Street on the south and from North Water Street on the east to North 9th Street on the west.

Also known as the "soft zone," the area will surround a portion of downtown that will be controlled by the U.S. Secret Service and accessible only to those with credentials.

What will be prohibited within the security footprint of the Republican National Convention?

The simple answer: A lot.

While most of us don't usually carry fireworks or pellet guns, there are some more typically innocuous items you'd best leave at home.

The ordinance bans:

• Lumber larger than 2 inches in width and 0.25 inches thick, including supports for signs.

• Metal, plastic, or other hard material more than 0.75 inches wide and 0.0125 inches in wall thickness, including pipes and tubing.

• Air rifles, air pistols, paintball guns, blasting caps, cestus or other combat gloves, billy clubs, blackjacks, swords, sabers, hatchets, axes, slingshots, BB guns, pellet guns, wrist shots, wrist rockets, metal knuckles, nunchucks, iron buckles, axe handles, shovels or other things that could be used to hurt people or damage property.

• Machine guns, fully automatic weapons, short-barreled shotguns and silencers, all of which are prohibited under state law, according to the City Attorney's Office.

• Explosives, explosive devices or incendiary devices.

• Fireworks or rockets.

• Drones or other unmanned aircraft systems or devices.

• Containers of bodily fluid or waste.

• Containers of flammable liquid.

• Aerosol cans.

• Mace, pepper spray, OC spray or other chemical irritants.

• Umbrellas with a metal tip.

• Projectile launchers, including slingshots, water guns or water cannons.

• Adhesive or rope, chain, cable, strapping, wire, string, line, tape or similar materials longer than 6 inches.

• Glass bottles, ornaments, light bulbs, ceramic vessels or brittle containers, whether or not the container holds any substance.

• Locks, including padlocks, bicycle locks, chain locks or similar device. (This does not include locks used by the owner of private property for temporary or permanent fencing or locks attached to bicycles.)

• Tents or other shelters, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, mattresses, cots, hammocks, bivy sacks or stoves.

• Coolers or ice chests.

• Backpacks or bags larger than 18 inches by 13 inches by 7 inches.

• Lasers.

• Non-plastic containers, bottles, cans or thermoses.

• Ladders.

• Grappling hooks, sledgehammers, hammers, crowbars or prybars.

• Canned goods.

• Tennis balls or other similarly sized balls.

• Gas masks or similar devices, not including medical oxygen masks, cloth masks, or N95 or KN95 surgical masks used to avoid transmission of viruses. This provision does not apply to law enforcement and emergency responders acting in their official capacities.

• Anything else Police Chief Jeffrey Norman determines presents a "clear and present danger" to safety.

Who is exempt from the prohibitions on various items in the Republican National Convention security footprint?

People who fall into the following categories are not subject to the prohibitions on various items, under the following circumstances:

• Those who work in the footprint who have a prohibited item as part of their normal business or employment and are using it within that business or place of employment.

• Residents of the security footprint who keep the item within their residence.

• Any law enforcement personnel or government employee who has a prohibited item as part of their duties.

• Any licensed medical professional performing his or her medical duties.

What won't be prohibited in the RNC security footprint? Hint: Guns.

Most guns will be allowed within the security footprint because state law prevents the city from banning them.

A Common Council committee on a divided vote last week rejected an effort to challenge state law and try to ban guns in the area.

What behaviors are banned in the security footprint?

There are five banned actions:

• Possessing, using or placing anything with the intent to obstruct the free movement of the public on rights-of-way, sidewalks, private property entrances or exits or other areas.

• Inhibiting the movement of the public on streets, rights-of-way or sidewalks, except if it is done by law enforcement, emergency personnel or others authorized and credentialed by law enforcement.

• Attaching oneself to another person, building, vehicle or other fixture to obstruct the public's ability to move freely.

• Abandoning anything in areas of public access. Anything abandoned "shall be subject to immediate search, removal or disposal," the ordinance states.

• Camping.

What zoning changes will be in place during the convention?

The ordinance allows Department of Neighborhood Services Commissioner Jezamil Arroyo-Vega to suspend enforcement of the following zoning codes between July 8 and July 22, unless it poses a threat to public safety and health:

• Temporary banners and advertising signs.

• Temporary vehicle parking and outdoor storage.

• Other temporary uses at Arroyo-Vega's discretion.

Even though enforcement of zoning codes may be suspended, property owners and business operators must still get applicable licenses or building permits for temporary uses during those dates, the ordinance states.

Alison Dirr can be reached at [email protected]. Tristan Hernandez can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about what Milwaukee allows and bans near the RNC