Any city or village may, without petition or creating a street improvement district, order the grading, curbing, guttering, and paving of any side street or alley within its corporate limits connecting with a major traffic street for a distance not to exceed one block from such major traffic street. The improvements authorized by this section may be performed upon any side street or alley not previously improved to meet or exceed the minimum standards for pavement set by the city or village for its paved streets.