Whenever in the opinion of the city council of any city the public interest or convenience may require, that body may do one or more of the following:
(a) Order any street lighting system to be maintained in or along the whole or any part of any one or more of the streets in such city.
(b) Order electric current or energy, gas, or other illuminating agent to be furnished for such street lighting system.
For any of the purposes expressed in subdivision (a) or (b) of this section, the city council may determine and declare the district to be benefited by any such improvement and fix the exterior boundaries thereof and assess, either partly or wholly, the costs and expenses (including all incidental expenses) of such improvement, or of any one or more of the items thereof, upon the lands in the district.