Brentwood is asking its residents to fill out a survey to help the City Council decide what to do to fill the vacancy created by the election of former Vice Mayor Joel Bryant as mayor.

Residents will choose between three alternatives: holding a special election at the cost of about $200,000 to the city; having the City Council appoint the second-highest vote-getter in the mayoral election in Karen Rarey, who was previously elected to the council in 2016; or having the City Council make the appointment using an application process.

Residents can participate in the online survey, which will run through Dec. 28. The City Council will then discuss the results of the survey at a special meeting on Dec. 29, and must make a decision before Feb. 6 or the city will be required by law to hold the special election.

More information about the survey can be accessed by calling 925-516-5187.

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.