Getting Started 🚀

Last updated: November 20, 2025

Welcome to the Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan community forum. This space is designed to connect stakeholders, share ideas, and collaborate on topics that strengthen our region’s resilience to flooding, storms, and sea level rise. This forum is managed by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

1. Create Your Account 📝

• Click the Sign Up button at the top right of the page.
• Enter your name, email address, and a secure password.
• Check your email for a verification link and click it to activate your account. You must verify your email before you can post.
• Once logged in, you’ll see your avatar in the top-right corner — this is where you can access your profile, settings, and notifications.

2. Set Up Your Profile and User Settings 👤

Completing your profile helps others connect with you and understand your role in the project.

• Click your avatar in the top-right corner and select "Edit Profile" to update your information and upload a profile picture and cover photo.
• Fill in your "Participation Level" to set expectations for other users about how involved you are in the Coastal Master Plan.
• Go to "Settings" to customize display preferences, privacy controls, and notification settings.

3. Enable Email Notifications 📩

To stay up to date on new posts and replies, you can turn on email notifications:

• Click your avatar in the top-right corner and select “Settings.”
• Go to the “Notifications” area.
• Toggle on “Email notifications for replies to threads you follow” or “Email notifications for new posts in categories you’re subscribed to.”
• You can customize which types of notifications you receive—such as replies, mentions, or new topics, and how frequently (immediately, daily digest, etc.).
• Make sure your email is verified, and add the forum’s domain to your trusted senders so you don’t miss anything.

4. Participate and Share 💬

• Browse Categories to find topics that interest you. Read, reply, or start new threads on relevant topics.
• Post documents, images, or links relevant to coastal resilience — include a short description so others know what they’re viewing.
• Use short, descriptive tags when starting a new topic to help others find related discussions.
• Be respectful and constructive. See the Forum Terms of Service, and use the flag option 🚩on posts if you see inappropriate content that violates those terms.
• All participation in this forum is subject to Florida’s Sunshine Law and Public Records Act (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes). This means any posts, messages, or files you share may be considered public record and accessible upon request.

5. Workgroup Participation 🤝

The forum is a central hub for all Technical and Community Workgroup activities. Here you can:

• Access meeting materials, summaries, and key takeaways.
• Review and comment on project updates, draft documents, and technical resources.
• Provide feedback during public review periods to help shape the Coastal Master Plan.
• Continue discussions between meetings to keep collaboration moving forward.

6. Forum Key Terms 🧭

• Category or Subcategory – Broad discussion areas (e.g., “Flood Risk Planning” or “Technical Workgroup Resources”).
• Topic – An individual discussion thread within a category or subcategory.
• Post – A single message or reply within a topic.

Think of it like: Category/Subcategory = bookshelf, Topic = book, Post = page in the book.

7. Stay Informed 📢

• Check the Recent Activity page for the latest posts.
• Follow categories or topics to get notified about updates.
• Adjust your notification settings to control how and when you receive alerts based on your preferences.