Whenever any private citizen in the city desires a street, alley or other public way to be opened in the city, he or she may file with the City Clerk a petition, duly verified, setting forth the facts and reasons for the opening of a street, alley or other public way. Accompanying such petition shall be an engineer’s plat or map thereof showing the location and dimensions of the street, alley or other public way to be opened. Also attached to the petition shall be letters or affidavits of the abutting property owners showing their consent or disapproval of the proposed matter; an estimate of the costs of opening; and a statement by each abutting property owner whether he or she shall be willing to assume his or her proportionate share of costs for the opening.