(a)    The chief of police for the city of Columbia is authorized to deploy or move downtown safety cameras for the purpose of enhancing public security.

    (b)    Before deploying or moving an existing downtown safety camera, the chief of police shall provide public notice of such deployment or proposed movement.  The notice shall identify the public security concerns that have been considered in the decision to deploy or move the downtown safety camera as well as the general capabilities and viewing area of the downtown safety camera.  The public shall have thirty (30) days to submit comments to the chief of police regarding a proposed deployment or movement, and the chief of police shall provide public notice of the chief’s decision regarding deployment or movement in light of public comment.

    (c)    In exigent circumstances, the chief of police is authorized to deploy or move downtown safety cameras without the public notice or comment periods referred to in subsection (b), but only for so long as such exigent circumstances justify deployment or movement.

    (d)    Video recordings shall be indexed, stored and maintained for sixty (60) calendar days after which time they will be recorded over or destroyed.  Recordings may be retained beyond sixty (60) calendar days upon written order from the chief of police and only because the recordings contain evidence of criminal activity, because the recordings capture an occurrence that may subject the Columbia police department to civil liability, or because the recordings will be used for training purposes.  Recordings that contain evidence of criminal activity or recordings that capture an occurrence that may subject the Columbia police department to civil liability shall be maintained only for so long as the recordings have evidentiary value. Recordings that will be used for training purposes may be maintained only for so long as they are actively used for training purposes.

    (e)    The city manager is authorized to enter into agreements with private contractors who supply and operate and maintain downtown safety cameras and related tapes and equipment and who agree to operate the downtown safety cameras pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.