The Birmingham City Council Public Safety Committee is considering the use of surveillance cameras placed in four high crime areas of the city. It is part of Alabama Power's "Smart Cities Initiative", where the city's Metro Area Crime Center would monitor the cameras, and Alabama Power maintain them. 50 of those surveillance cameras are equipped with license plate recognition technology. City Councilor Hunter Williams says it will cost the city more than $650,000. The cameras are expected to be compatible with the city's Shot Spotter technology which detects gunfire. The Council is expected to approve the plan next week.