steve ritchie assistant general manager for water. this is a contract-the 4est service likes to call a collection agreement, but is is just a correct so nothing special about the item. we have been work wg the southwest research station for many many years now on [indiscernible] in the watershed, so this is just the latest in series of contracts we have done with them. it is a very productive partnership helping us with things such as sudden oak death and the plant pathogen problems we experienced during the program. so, we recommend approval, and staff is here to answer any questions you might have. >> thank you. any questions on this contract? commissioners? seeing none, thank you. open item 8 to public comment please. >> remote callers, raise your hand if you wish to comment on item 8. any members of the public present who wish to comment on this item? >> please come to the microphone. seeing none, let's go to public comment. remote comment. >> moderator, do we have callers with their hands raised? >> commission secretary, there ar