For federal, state and local law enforcement officials, the task at hand is daunting: Preparing, planning and ultimately securing the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.

"This is a major event," said Robert Pasci, the Democratic convention's coordinator for the U.S. Secret Service. "This is a major undertaking. We began our initial planning in May, 14 months ahead of the convention. It takes that long."

Law enforcement officials met with local media Wednesday to discuss early planning for the convention, which will be held July 13-16 and draw 50,000 delegates, activists, media and tourists to Milwaukee and the surrounding area.

The convention is designated by the Homeland Security secretary as a National Special Security Event. The Secret Service is the lead federal agency for security.

For the 2020 convention, there is an executive steering committee that includes federal, state and local agencies.

"The executive committee is the captain of the ship," said Pasci, a 23-year veteran of the Secret Service. By the time the convention is over, Pasci will have spent 18 months living in Milwaukee.

In addition, there are 27 subcommittees that take a deeper dive into such areas as transportation, venues and crowd management. A subcommittee will also look at threats that could come from waterways.

"We want to ensure every voice is heard, we want to ensure the plan is balanced," Pasci said.

Local law enforcement is eager to work with the federal agencies.

"This is going to be a team effort. We're all on board," Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said.

Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas said: "This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for the city of Milwaukee to be showcased around the country, around the world."

Milwaukee is well-positioned for the event. The Milwaukee Police Department has an Intelligence Fusion Center where local, state and federal law enforcement all share information. The fusion centers were established nationwide after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The Milwaukee facility was credited for rapid responses after mass shootings at the Azana Spa in Brookfield and the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.

Security funds are expected to be appropriated by Congress. In 2016, the Democratic and Republican national conventions each received $50 million for security costs. That figure could slightly rise depending on congressional action.

For now, the biggest open question is just how large the security perimeter will be for the main convention venues: Fiserv Forum and the Wisconsin Center, as well as the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theater.

Local organizers have said the security perimeter could be made public by January, giving local businesses and residents plenty of time to make adjustments.

"We hope we’ll be able to release that by the winter," Pasci said. "But we’re not going to rush any of our technical professionals. We’re not going to rush anyone through an assessment."

He said people will face interruptions but that officials will work to "mitigate those interruptions as best we can."

Pasci said he and others on his team have worked to get out into the community.

"This will be a large, grand-scale event," he said. "It will have impact. We want to make sure all voices are heard."

Milwaukee won't just be the only area for security. Delegates will be spread in hotels across the region, including near O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Asked how security planning for conventions has changed over the years, Pasci said: "We always have to be available and we always have to be ready to change our tactics. ... Bad actors are always looking at what we do, what our brothers and sisters and fellow law enforcement communities are doing and then adjusting their tactics."

The bottom line: "We feel very good about any eventuality and any possibility. We’re prepared for everything," Pasci said. "Again, we're preparing for everything from a weather-related incident to the opposite end of the spectrum."

Ashley Luthern and John Diedrich of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this article.