Hernando County CRA reviews Cass Circle projects and unanimously adopts 2026 budget

The Hernando County Community Redevelopment Agency on Nov. 18 reviewed progress in the Cass Circle redevelopment area and unanimously adopted a resolution approving the CRA budget for 2026.

Vito Ramirez, Hernando County housing and supportive services director, opened the update and said staff prepared a presentation showing this year’s work in Cass Circle and the projects planned for the coming years. Miss Alvarez, the CRA presenter, said staff organized a sidewalk festival in February with local partners — People Helping People, the YMCA, NCA Togetherhood, Community Bank, United Way and others — and that volunteers collected 4,796 pounds of food for People Helping People. “We were able to collect 4,796 pounds of food,” Miss Alvarez said, and staff reported about 25 volunteers participated in the event.

The presentation outlined proposed capital improvements through 2030, including a pedestrian crossing moved into the center median because of underground utilities, sidewalks, wayfinding signage and signs identifying the CRA area. Miss Alvarez said designs will be returned to the board for approval when ready and that landscaping and decorative elements are contingent on sidewalks being built first. “As soon as we have any design ideas, we’re gonna bring them back to the board for your approval,” she said.

Commissioner Hawkins raised the presence of a roughly 50‑foot karst sinkhole surrounded by housing and commercial buildings and asked whether the CRA could pursue acquiring that specific area through non‑county funding rather than using county dollars. “Not not using county funds, but maybe there’s an opportunity to purchase that area,” Hawkins said, noting challenges in coordinating events where the private owner of the mall has not cooperated. Staff and commissioners discussed outreach to apartment complexes and other property owners to broaden partnerships beyond the privately owned mall.

Administrator Rogers asked for a status update on Spring Hill pedestrian-safety work. Scott Herring, public works director and county engineer, said staff are revising the pedestrian‑crossing design and “hope to get the design completed this fiscal year. If we can get it to bid, we will,” but he declined to promise a bid date. Herring also reported that, according to the property appraiser’s website, the shopping center’s total for 2025 was $163,014.

Staff described a site assessment near the sinkhole and recommended against constructing a small park there because it is steep, unsafe and difficult to access, and therefore unlikely to be cost‑effective or beneficial to the neighborhood. Miss Alvarez said, after field work with Parks & Recreation, large retaining or access costs made the park idea impractical.

After the presentation the board voted on a resolution adopting the Cass Circle CRA budget for 2026. Commissioner Hawkins moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Champion seconded. With no public comment, the board voted 4-0 to adopt the budget. The board also approved the CRA meeting schedule for 2026 by the same 4-0 vote.

Formal actions taken during the meeting included approval of the agenda and the minutes from Dec. 17, 2024 (each by unanimous 4-0 votes), adoption of the CRA budget for 2026 (4-0), and approval of the 2026 CRA meeting schedule (4-0). The chair adjourned the meeting at about 2:31 p.m.

What’s next: staff will return with design materials for the pedestrian crossing, sidewalk plans and signage concepts for board approval; no acquisition or purchase of the sinkhole property was authorized at the meeting.