Referendum on Coyotes agreement can go forward

PHOENIX – Voters in Glendale can go ahead with a referendum on a lease
agreement between the city and the prospective owner of the Phoenix Coyotes
after a judge invalidated one section of the ordinance.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dean Fink on Tuesday asked attorneys for
the city and conservative watchdog group Goldwater Institute to rewrite a
section of the ordinance to show that it was not passed as an emergency measure.

Residents now have 30 days from the June 8 Glendale City Council vote to gather
signatures for a public referendum on the agreement.

Fink said he will issue a ruling on Goldwater’s attempt to invalidate the
entire ordinance soon.

Glendale’s City Council voted 4-2 in favor of the $325 million lease agreement
with potential Coyotes owner Greg Jamison.