Public remote logging in to private camera systems is logistically infeasible for 90%+ of private cameras. There are hundreds of different video surveillance recorders, all of which require different client software/APIs. Plus, the municipality would require access into the LANs of private companies which is unlikely to happen.

The good thing about a mandatory registration for businesses is it would give a city a good count of the number of cameras in the community. It's impossible to keep track of those numbers unless a program like this is implemented. It's my belief that private cameras outweigh public cameras by a ratio of at least 10:1 and that ratio will only get higher .

Example: If a gunshot detector goes off, police can find the closest cameras based on a geomap, and proceed to log-in to the private camera systems to search for suspects immediately. This in combination with officer deployment tactics can increase the potential for an arrest.

If it's just letting police know where systems are, I don't think it's of much benefit. It's pretty easy for police to ask adjoining business and residences after a crime if they have systems.