(a) 
Whenever the city council shall determine to improve any public highway, street or alley, as defined in Vernon’s Ann. Civ. St. art. 1086 et seq., which is hereby adopted in its entirety, it shall pass a resolution to that effect, which shall be conclusive of the public necessity therefor. Such resolution shall in general terms set forth the nature and extent of the improvements to be made, the section or sections of any public street to be improved and the material or materials with which the improvements are to be constructed and the manner in which the cost thereof is to be discharged.
(b) 
Such resolution may specify different and alternative materials with which the improvements may be constructed at the option of the council and different and alternative plans and methods of constructing and paying for same.
(1987 Code, sec. 19-41)
(a) 
Upon passage of such resolution provided for in this division, it shall be the duty of the city manager or an engineer designated by the city council to forthwith prepare specifications for such improvements which shall embrace the different or alternative materials and methods of construction specified in the resolution.
(b) 
The specifications shall be submitted to and approved by the city council. When the specifications have been approved it shall be the duty of the city secretary or such officer as may be designated by the city council to, at once, advertise for sealed bids for the performance of the work in accordance with the specifications. Such advertisement shall be published at least once in some newspaper of general circulation in the city not less than ten (10) days prior to the date mentioned therein for the opening of the bids.
(c) 
Sealed bids shall be filed with the city secretary or other officer designated by the city council and shall be opened and read in public meeting thereof. The city council shall have the right to accept the most advantageous bid to the city and owners of property abutting the proposed improvement. No bid shall be amended or changed after being opened, and the city council shall have power after opening such bids to select such materials, plans or methods of construction as it shall deem best.
(1987 Code, sec. 19-42)
When the bid provided for in this division has been accepted, the city shall enter into written contract with the successful bidder for the performance of the work, which shall be executed by the mayor and attested with corporation seal by the city secretary, or such other officer as may be designated by the city council. Such bidder may be required to enter into bond for the performance of the work, or maintenance and repair thereof for the term of one (1) year from completion, in case the material, methods or plans of construction employed therein shall prove defective. Such bond shall be executed with one corporate surety authorized to do business in this state.
(1987 Code, sec. 19-43)
The contract and bonds, if any, having been approved by the city council, if any part of the cost of such improvements is to be assessed against owners of abutting property owners and their property, it shall be the duty of the city manager or an engineer as may be designated by the city council to prepare and file with the city council a statement containing the names of the persons owning property abutting on the proposed improvements, and describing each parcel by lot or block number, number of front foot, or otherwise so as to sufficiently identify the same. Such statement shall contain an estimate of the total cost of such improvement and of the proportion of such total cost proposed to be assessed against owners of abutting property and the estimated cost per front foot of abutting property. The city council shall examine such statement and, after correcting any errors therein, approve the same, but no error, mistake or omission shall invalidate the same or any assessment made thereunder. After approving the statement, if it is fully determined to assess a part of the cost of such improvements against property owners and their property, the city council shall so declare by resolution ordering a hearing to be given to owners of such abutting property and notice thereof by advertisement inserted not less than three (3) times in some newspaper published in the city, the first publication to be not less than ten (10) days before the date of the hearing therein referred to. Such notice shall be signed by the city secretary or other officer designated by the city council and shall in general terms set forth the nature and extent of the proposed improvement, the total estimated cost thereof proposed to be assessed against such owners and their property, the total amount proposed to be assessed against each owner and his property, and the names of such owners and a description of their property as contained in the statement filed with the city council by the city manager, and shall also state the time and place designated by the city council for hearing to the owners. The notice shall also be mailed by registered letter addressed to such owners at their address, if known, or if unknown then to their agent or attorney, if known, and deposited in the postal service at least ten (10) days before the day set for the hearing; but such notice by letter shall be only cumulative of the notice by advertisement, which shall in all cases be held valid and binding.
(1987 Code, sec. 19-44)
The hearing for property owners shall be held before the city council at the time and place designated, and at such hearing the owners, their agents or attorneys shall receive a full and fair hearing of all matters with reference to such proposed assessment against them and their property and any irregularities or invalidity in any proceeding with reference thereto, or the special benefits of such improvements to their property in the enhanced value thereof or any other matter or thing with reference thereto, and such owners may at the hearing appear in person or by attorney and produce evidence and subpoena witnesses. The hearing shall continue from day to day and from time to time without notice, until all have been fully heard.
(1987 Code, sec. 19-45)
After the hearing provided for in this division has been closed, the city council shall, from the evidence before it, determine the amounts, if any, to be assessed against each owner and his property and shall by ordinance assess the same against the property of each owner, and declare the amount so assessed to be personal liability of its owner as provided by Vernon’s Ann. Civ. St. art. 1086 et seq. The total amount to be assessed against such owners and their property shall be apportioned among them in accordance with the front foot plan or rule in proportion as the frontage of each owner is to the whole of the frontage to be improved; provided that, if the application of this rule shall in the opinion of the city council be unjust or unequal, or result in individual cases in an assessment in excess of special benefits received from such improvements, then the city council shall adopt such rule of apportionment which shall effect a substantial equality and uniformity between the owners, considering benefits received by and burdens imposed upon them and their property.
(1987 Code, sec. 19-46)