The finance director is authorized to collect and receive from any owner or owners of any subdivision or subdivisions of any lot, tract or parcel of land, upon which a local improvement district assessment has been or may hereafter be made, such portion of the assessment or assessments levied or to be levied against such lot, tract or parcel of land in the payment of the local improvement as the city engineer shall certify to the city council and the city council shall determine to be chargeable to such subdivision or subdivisions, in accordance with the requirements and provisions of law and the ordinances of the city in force at the time the original charge or assessment was made, together with a similar proportion of any penalties, interest or cost which has accrued thereafter. (1957 code § 12.48.010.)