Whenever the City Council shall deem it necessary that a sidewalk should be constructed in front of any lot or piece of ground in the city in a place where there is no sidewalk, they shall so order and the Street Superintendent or Building Official shall thereupon notify the owner of such lot or piece of ground, or his or her agent, if a resident of the city, of the work or improvement to be done, and such owner or person so notified shall be allowed 30 days from the date of said notice in which to construct the same.