Law enforcement authorities from the city, the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University yesterday told members of the Oakland community at a roundtable discussion that police presence in the "city within a city" will be strong and noticeable during the G-20 economic summit next week.

Police Cmdr. Kathy Degler said the city has committed 100 officers to Oakland during the week of the summit, which will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, on Sept. 24 and 25. Pitt will have 68 officers working 12-hour shifts beginning next Tuesday, Cmdr. Francis Walsh said. And CMU Lt. Gary Scheimer said the college plans to add 15 to 20 officers to its 25-member force beginning Monday.

Even though the summit is being held Downtown, it is possible protesters may try to cause disruptions in Oakland to draw officers there, the police officials told the 50 attendees -- business owners, property owners and officials from Pitt, CMU, Chatham and UPMC.

Targets of demonstrators protesting capitalism may include national chains such as Starbucks, McDonald's, The Gap and Banana Republic, Cmdr. Degler said. Lt Scheimer said there may be massive traffic disruption if a rumored unauthorized protest march to the convention center begins at noon Sept. 24 at the corner of 40th Street and Penn Avenue.

Cmdr. Walsh said he expects protesters to protest the arrival of some G-20 delegates visiting the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Sept. 24. The next day, a march that begins at noon at Craft, Forbes and Fifth avenues likely will cause traffic problems, he said.

Executive Director Georgia Petropoulos Muir of the Oakland Business Improvement District said the police report was reassuring to those in attendance.

"Oakland wants to remain open. Our consumers are scheduled to be here from the universities and hospitals. Our Oakland businesses want to be open, hence their concerns on what to look out for," she said.

Police asked the Oakland community to assist them by reporting unusually large gatherings of people or anything that seems out of the ordinary in their neighborhood. Attendees were told Fifth and Forbes avenues will remain open but the Boulevard of the Allies may be closed for a time, and businesses were advised to have their deliveries made early in the week.