Introducing a File from the Floor
Summary Tip
Files which miss the Wednesday noon deadline can be introduced from the floor at the Council meeting, either via the consent agenda or via motion from the floor.
Any file introduced from the floor should have this noted in the Details tab. Files introduced from the floor are complete files with the same content as files introduced on the agenda.
Background
Madison General Ordinance 2.05 lists a Wednesday 12:00pm deadline for new files to be submitted for introduction at the next Council meeting. By keeping this deadline, the agenda review process is able to stay on schedule, helping to ensure that the agenda can be published timely on Thursday afternoon.
If you have a new file ready for introduction but have missed the Wednesday deadline, there is still a way to get the file introduced at the meeting, via introduction from the floor. Although the file is not included in new business on the agenda, the file will be introduced from the floor during the meeting - either via the consent agenda or a motion from the lead sponsor at the end of the meeting.
Instructions
To get a file introduced from the floor, email the file number to the Council Office at councilagenda@cityofmadison.com and refer to the following notes:
On the file Details tab in the Notes field, add Introduced from the floor on and enter the Council meeting date, for example Introduced from the floor on 7/1/25. These details are important for tracking and transparency purposes, since the file will not appear on the Council agenda for the meeting.
- Files received Tuesday morning are added to the consent agenda document.
- Files received Tuesday afternoon must be introduced via a motion from the floor by the lead sponsor at the end of the meeting.
When a file needs to be expedited
Files being adopted under suspension of MGO 2.055 are files that are introduced and adopted in the same meeting, but by ordinance are not allowed to be introduced from the floor. If a deadline requires the file be introduced and adopted at the upcoming Council meeting, then contact the Council Office ASAP to discuss options and also refer to Adopt under suspension.