In addition to any authority granted by general law, the Council may, without the necessity of a petition, order sidewalk improvements or repairs according to standards and specifications of the City, and assess the total costs or a portion thereof against abutting property, according to one or more of the assessment bases set forth in G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 10. Regardless of the assessment basis or bases employed, the Council may order the costs of sidewalk improve-ments made only on one side of a street to be assessed against property abutting both sides of the street. In ordering sidewalk improvements or repairs without a petition and assessing the costs thereof under authority of this Article, the Council shall comply with the procedures provided by G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 10, except those provisions relating to petitions of property owners and the sufficiency thereof. The effect of levying assessments under authority of this Article shall be the same as if the assessments were levied under authority of G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 10.