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Monona committee votes to reallocate Monona Go funds instead of renewing app subscription
Summary
Monona Community Media Committee voted to reallocate about $3,910 budgeted for the Monona Go app, deciding not to renew the custom app subscription and instead direct those funds to other department needs; staff will include the choice in the mayor—s proposed budget.
The Monona Community Media Committee voted Sept. 11 to stop budgeting to renew the custom Monona Go streaming app and to use the roughly $3,910 in annual subscription costs for other community media needs.
Committee Chair Teresa (Monona Community Media Committee) and Will (community media staff) led a discussion of usage statistics and costs. Will presented platform data and said, “$3,910 is what it—s costing us to keep the apps,” and showed that app downloads across platforms total about 800 since 2022 (Apple TV/iOS 674; Fire TV 18; Roku 26; Android 64). He contrasted those numbers with recent YouTube activity: 7,400 views and 832 hours watched in the last 28 days, and a total of about 3,406 YouTube subscribers.
The committee—s nut graf: committee members concluded the low active usage on Monona Go does not justify the recurring subscription cost and voted to allocate the money elsewhere in the operating budget while leaving open the possibility of revisiting a dedicated app in the future.
Discussion and evidence: Will walked the committee through Monona Go analytics, saying the app had about 105 views and 13 hours of total viewing in a recent 28-day period while YouTube drew far larger audiences. Committee members noted differences between platforms and use cases: Bill (committee member) urged caution comparing YouTube to a standalone app but acknowledged the committee had limited staff time for sustained promotion. Katie (committee member) and others pointed out that downloads count devices, not unique users, and that newsletter subscribers and Monona Go downloads are different metrics.
The committee debated whether to notify the public if the app service were allowed to expire. Will said the subscription renewal is due in January–February and that messaging could be planned if the app is discontinued.
Formal action: A motion to use the Monona Go subscription funds for other purposes passed unanimously (mover: not specified in the record; second: Amanda, committee member). The motion text recorded by the committee was to use the Monona Go finances for other purposes within the department; committee members voted "aye" and recorded no opposed votes.
Ending: Will said he would include the decision and revised dollar amounts in the materials he takes to the mayor when the city—s budget is prepared. Several members said the committee could revisit a similar app later if a different, more integrated or less costly platform becomes available.
