A benefit district shall be established by ordinance. One benefit district may be designated for the acquisition of lands for one or several parking stations. Prior to the establishment of a benefit district, the governing body of the city may conduct a survey and investigation for the purpose of determining suitable locations for parking stations, the approximate cost of acquiring and improving the land therefor, the area to be included in the benefit district or districts and the percentage of the costs of acquiring and improving such parking stations to be assessed against the benefit district which shall be not less than fifty percent (50%) nor more than ninety percent (90%).

A written report on such survey and investigation shall be filed in the office of the city clerk in such city. For the purpose of such survey and investigation, the governing body may employ such appraisers, engineers and other persons as it may deem necessary. The cost of such survey and investigation shall be included as a part of the cost of acquiring and improving the land for parking stations but if no land be acquired such costs may be paid from the general fund of the city. In establishing a benefit district, the governing body may fix the percentage of the cost of acquiring and improving lands for parking stations which is to be assessed against the benefit district.