The procedure for making, altering, vacating, or abandoning a public improvement shall be governed by general ordinance or, to the extent not so governed, by the applicable general laws of the state. A remonstrance by the owners of property representing at least two-thirds of the land area within the boundaries of the territory to be specially assessed for a proposed public improvement shall suspend action regarding the improvement for six months. For the purpose of this section, "owner" shall mean the record holder of legal title to the land, except that if there is a purchaser of the land according to a recorded land sale contract or according to a verified writing by the record holder of legal title to the land filed with the city recorder, the said purchaser shall be deemed the owner.