One of the organizers of a proposed ballot measure asking Glendale voters to void a city deal with the Phoenix Coyotes says he may need fewer petition signatures than originally thought to get on the ballot.
“We’re still collecting, but we’re looking a lot better now that we have more (and) new information about the deadlines and the minimum number of signatures,” said Joe Cobb.
Cobb and Ken Jones are collecting signatures to get a referendum asking Glendale voters to void the city council June 8 approval of a $300 million arena-management deal and lease with prospective Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison.
The deal is essential to Jamison putting together a purchase of the Coyotes from the National Hockey League that will keep the team in the Phoenix market. Otherwise, the team could move to Quebec City, Canada, or Seattle.
The city of Glendale has said organizers need to get a little more than 1,800 signatures to get on the ballot. That number comes from a city rule stating a referendum can be placed on the ballot if organizers collect signatures from 10 percent of the last election.
The city has said there were more than 18,000 voters in the last general election and thus the Coyotes referendum needs 1,800 signatures.
But Cobb said those leading a referendum against a city sales tax hike told him today of a lower threshold.
“Today the anti-sales tax initiative turned in their 4,138 signatures, and Connie Wilhelm phoned me, excitedly, with the information that the 2010 election participation number (11,309 voters) was the controlling basis,” Cobb said. “Our minimum number is only 1,131 signatures. We have that number.”
Wilhelm is president of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona and is helping car dealers and other businesses fight a city sales tax increase to help deal with budget shortfalls.
The referendum effort could end up in the courts with the Glendale fighting organizers over the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot and when those petitions are due.
City rules say a referendum needs to have its signatures filed 30 days after a council approval. Glendale approved the measure June 8, but there have some legal wrangling over emergency-clause language, so the action may not have been officially approved until June 12 or 15.
Cobb said he has until July 15 to get the petition signatures.
That could put the city and the Goldwater Institute, which represents Cobb and Jones, back in the courtroom.
City officials will be reviewing the petitions, referendum language and signatures once they are turned in.
Getting the measure on the November ballot may be enough to chill investors and equity partners who are part of Jamison’s bid and lead the Coyotes toward a move out of Arizona.
Conversely, if the measure fails to make the ballot, that could clear the way for Jamison to buy the Coyotes.
Sources in Arizona say Jamison has the money to buy the team but is waiting on political and legal fights over the arena deal to be resolved.