City staff said the public‑private Surfliner hotel project on a portion of the city’s Parking Lot 3 has a complete application and will undergo formal environmental review.

"The status of the application is that it is complete; we have all the information to start processing," said Nick, the city’s director of community development. He said the project team has gone before the Architectural Review Board and is now preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), described in the meeting by staff using the Spanish initialism AIR.

Nick said the draft EIR is expected this winter, with a later 45‑day public comment period once the draft is released. After the comment period the city and its consultants will respond to comments and produce a final EIR; the Planning Commission will review the final EIR and the project permits and make a recommendation to the City Council. Staff did not provide a fixed hearing date but said the review could occur in spring or summer of the following year depending on schedule and technical work.

City staff also noted an online project page under the city website’s “Hot Topics” section where project documents, outreach notices and sign‑up options for interested parties will be posted.

No formal approvals were made at the State of the City event; staff said public comment and official hearings are the venues for permitting decisions.