Judith Kohler told the Royal Palm Beach Village Council during public comment that a neighbor’s repeated feeding of large flocks of Egyptian geese and Muscovy ducks has left feces across sidewalks and driveways, caused aggressive bird behavior and created sanitation and safety concerns for residents.

"This is an entirely different matter...they actually harm them," Kohler said, urging the council to strengthen the village’s ordinance and add substantial financial penalties. She cited photos she provided to the clerk and referenced federal guidance, saying "the CDC says that the H5N1 outbreak has led to a new variance which is the highly pathogenic avian influenza."

Community development staff responded that the village currently lacks a specific prohibition on feeding these flocks but that staff have drafted ordinance language and can pursue interim steps such as trapping and citations. "We don't have any prohibition to feeding them," Rob Hill said; staff explained they can issue citations based on witness affidavits or direct observation and that current citation amounts are typically in a $25–$35 range but could be modified by council policy.

Council members pressed staff for speed on the ordinance and to offer short‑term remedies to reduce risk to residents while the code change is finalized. One councilmember asked whether immediate action could protect an elderly resident who said she feared falling because aggressive birds approach; staff said they would attempt outreach and education and pursue abatement options where feasible.

The council directed staff to complete the ordinance drafting and return it for council review as quickly as possible. Staff said the item could appear on the next council agenda after required advertising and that attachments (photographs and draft language) would be included.

The council did not set a final fine schedule at the meeting; staff said any specific penalty table would be presented to the council within the drafted ordinance package.