Councilman Michael Cricco must have eaten his Wheaties Wednesday before coming to the City Council meeting, because he was just brimming with new ideas for how to improve the quality of life for the city’s residents. During the caucus session that precedes regular council business, Cricco asked the city’s lawyers to look into drafting a resolution that would uncover some of the city’s cobblestone streets that are buried under asphalt. “The cobblestones are already there,” said Cricco. “This would add significantly to the quaintness of the city.” Cricco said that he thought the cobblestone streets might particularly add to the character of the uptown area that he partly represents as the 5th Ward councilman. “Some of those five-story buildings look a little out of place,” said Cricco, while several council members nodded their heads in agreement. “I think this would add a little bit of village flavor to the area.” Other city officials were quick to point out additional benefits to Cricco’s idea. The city’s business administrator, George Crimmins, said “cobblestone streets provide a natural slowing of traffic.” City Councilman David Roberts said that he liked the idea and noted that the cobblestones were a tremendous city resource worth as much as $19 per Belgian stone. Dean Marchetto, an architect that works with the city, said that he thought the proposal was worth looking further into, but warned that making improvements to cobblestone streets would be more expensive than asphalt. The caucus concluded with a general consensus to research the idea further. Once regular business began, the Council agreed to take up another Cricco proposal at its next meeting. In an effort to reduce “noise pollution,” Cricco worked with the city’s legal staff to draft a resolution that would make honking your horn excessively a penalty that the police could fine drivers for up to $100. “This is about fining people for excessive horn beeping,” said Cricco after the meeting. “People are in such a rush in life. It’s really causing problems.” Under Cricco’s legislation, an excessive horn beep is defined as any horn or signaling device that emanates from a vehicle for any reason other than as a danger warning. Unreasonably loud or harsh horn-blowers will also be subject to fines under Cricco’s legislation. The measure defines unreasonably loud or harsh sounds as noises that last for longer than five minutes.