North Miami council renames Breezewept Park and co‑designates part of First Street for former councilman Jacques Despinos

The North Miami City Council voted to name Breezewept Park in honor of former Councilman Jacques Despinos and to co‑designate a portion of 130 First Street from Northeast Second Avenue to Northwest Seventh Avenue as Councilman Jacques Despinos Street.

Councilman Kevin Burns raised that Despinos’s family and associates preferred the park naming; Burns moved to amend the original resolution — which proposed the street designation — to name Breezewept Park for Despinos and to limit the street co‑designation to the corridor from Northeast Second Avenue to Northwest Seventh Avenue. Councilman Pierre Franz Charles seconded the motion. The council approved the amended measure by roll call with a 3‑0 vote.

During discussion, council members noted Despinos’s long service to the community and his work on voter registration and advocacy for the Haitian community. City staff indicated county approvals that had covered earlier, longer street extents would still apply and that the city would confirm any jurisdictional steps needed before completing signage and implementation. The council asked that the existing local name “Breezewept” remain visible on signage to preserve neighborhood recognition.

The passage authorizes the interim city manager to allocate and expend funds for signage and to implement the codesignation. The council did not set a specific installation date; staff said they would coordinate planning and come back as needed if county or right‑of‑way approvals require additional steps.

Clerk read the motion and recorded the vote; the item passed with a 3‑0 vote.