A. Any such improvement may be initiated either upon petition or by resolution therefor, but such improvement may be ordered only by ordinance.

B. In case the improvement is initiated by petition, such petition shall be presented to and filed with the city clerk or such other officer as may be designated by the city council. The city engineer shall thereupon examine such petition and ascertain if the facts therein stated are true and shall cause an estimate of the costs and expense of such improvement to be made and shall transmit the same to the city council, together with all papers and information in his possession regarding the same, together with his recommendations thereon and a description of the boundaries of the district and a statement of the proportionate amount of the cost and expense of such improvement which shall be borne by property within the proposed assessment district, and a statement of the aggregate assessed valuation of the real estate, exclusive of the improvements in such districts according to the valuation last placed upon it for purpose of general taxation, together with all other outstanding and unpaid local improvement assessments against the property included in the district excluding penalties and interest; and in case the said petition is sufficient, shall also submit a diagram showing thereon the lots, tracts or parcels of land and other property which will be especially benefitted thereby and the estimated amount of the cost and expense of such improvement to be borne by each lot, tract or parcel of property.

C. The city council or other legislative body, may initiate such improvement directly by resolution, declaring its intention to order such improvement and setting forth the nature and territorial extent thereof and notify all persons who may desire to object thereto to appear and present such objections, at a meeting of the city council, or other legislative body, at the time specified in such resolution. Such resolution shall be published in at least two consecutive issues of the official newspaper of the city and the date of hearing thereon shall be at least fifteen (15) days after the date of the first publication of the same. The city engineer shall submit to the city council, at or prior to the date fixed for such hearing, the same date and information required to be submitted in the case of a petition.

D. The city council may, by ordinance, authorize the making of any such improvement and such ordinance may be passed on or at any time after the date of the hearing specified in the resolution.