SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- The Springfield City Council is discussing possible definition changes in the animal control municipal code and looking for guidance for the process to select a new city manager next July.

The animal control code could be updated with new and expanded definitions regarding animals, more specifically dogs.

Animal control officials have presented changes that would add definitions of an animal owner, service animal and what's considered serious physical injury, as well as updating the definition of an "at large" animal or dog, vicious dogs and number of dogs permitted on a commercial property, just to name a few of the possible updates.

To learn more about the proposed changes to the code, see the city council agenda for Monday night.

"We've been seeing some problems with enforceability due to some out-of-date definitions and lack of definitions," Animal Control Officer Brian Austin said. "These codes have not been updated for quite a few years. Last I understand, 15 to 20 years ago is the last time they were looked at and comprehensively gone through."

During their work session, city council members voted to continue the discussion of these proposed changes in January during a longer work session.

As for the soon-to-be vacant city manager position, current manager Gino Grimaldi has announced his retirement, effective July of 2019.

During Monday night's work session, the council voted to allow city staff to amend a city contract with a current head-hunting agency so they could meet with that agency.

If the council decides they want to pursue other agencies, they will go out for bid and meet with those agencies at a later date.