You can bring your mask or your gun Downtown for the G-20 summit, but don't pack your pipe or gas mask just yet.

City Council yesterday nixed legislation sought by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration that would have allowed police to cite people for wearing masks or hoods to conceal their faces while attempting something unlawful. It delayed action until today on another proposed ordinance that would allow police to cite people for possessing a host of items -- no longer including guns -- if they detect an intent to thwart crowd control efforts.

Members said they haven't gotten clear, public answers from administration officials on why the legislation is needed, or on how police can judge the intent of people who might be carrying PVC pipe or a carton of eggs. "They're not at the table tomorrow, we vote them down," said council Public Safety Chair Bruce Kraus.

Just two members -- Ricky Burgess and Jim Motznik -- voted for the mask ordinance.

The separate legislation letting police move against protesters carrying pipes, handcuffs, chains, carabiners, padlocks, noxious or toxic substances, gas masks, projectile launchers, human or animal waste or blood, rotten eggs, acid, gasoline, gases or sprays and alcohol, if they seem intent to block the right-of-way, seemed destined for a no vote until a council majority voted to give the administration one more day to explain it.

References to a list of "assault weapons" that the city banned in 1993 -- only to have the ban quashed by the General Assembly in 1994 -- have been deleted from the legislation. Council members feared they would be mired in a lawsuit with the National Rifle Association that the city would likely lose.

"You can walk Downtown during the G-20 with a gun hidden under your coat, but you will not be allowed to walk around with a piece of PVC pipe," said Councilman William Peduto. He called the legislation "a way to quell speech" and said he would vote against it.

The administration had no reaction to council's actions.

The city Law Department yesterday released several conditional permits for protests and other G-20-related events. The city continued, though, to maintain that it will not allow camping in parks, including Point State Park. In addition, marchers during the Sept. 24 and 25 summit will have to stop at the City-County Building, or loop around a security zone the U.S. Secret Service has created around the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, according to city letters to applicants.

Camping and march permit applications are the subject of a federal court suit. A hearing is scheduled today before U.S. District Judge Gary L. Lancaster.