Whenever the corporate authorities of any municipality deem it necessary to undertake any local improvement, within the corporate limits, a resolution shall be adopted describing the public property to be so improved. Such resolution shall also establish a committee on local improvements consisting of the presiding officer of the corporate authorities, an attorney and an engineer. Such resolution shall direct the committee on local improvements to proceed in the preparation of plans, specifications, estimate of cost, and an ordinance for the improvement. Proceedings to make a local improvement also may be instituted whenever the owners of more than one-half of the property abutting on any street, avenue, lane, alley or other public place, or portion thereof, petition the corporate authorities of any municipality to make any local improvement within the corporate limits. If such petition is presented the corporate authorities shall adopt a resolution describing the public property to be so improved and directing the committee on local improvements, consisting of the same membership as described above in this section, to proceed in the preparation of plans, specifications, estimate of cost and an ordinance for the improvement.