While the majority of the Republican National Convention events will be held in Tampa, the convention's "welcome party" will be held across the Bay in St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field.
On Thursday, St. Petersburg City Council members answered questions about the party's "event zone" and discussed rules that will be put in place during the convention.
A vote on the event zone was delayed last week because council members still had some lingering questions. Those issues were revisited Thursday and some protesters were on hand at city hall. Some residents were upset about the design and restrictions making up St. Petersburg's 7.4-square-mile event zone. Under the most recent recent proposal, the zone would surround Tropicana Field the entire week of the convention. But most of the restrictions would be in effect for the Aug. 26 kick-off party.
Items prohibited during that time include: bottles, fireworks and coolers. However, there also is concern about traffic downtown and some possible road closures, including Interstate 175.
The public hearing has already taken place, where protesters were allowed to speak. Officials said they could not to speak at Thursday's meeting. However, protesters were outside of the meeting, where they made their voices heard. They say their designated protest ares for the event is too far away from the Trop to be heard.
The protest group 'Free Speech Project' opposed the proposed ordinance, stating in a letter to the city "the ordinance is a threat to the residents, it penalizes them in order to combat a few who will not be affected by this ordinance."