FRANK BURGOS Herald Staff Writer

An ordinance that would set time limits on tent gatherings earned the wrath of some ministers and preachers during a packed and emotionally charged Hialeah City Council meeting Tuesday.
Under the ordinance proposed by Mayor Raul Martinez, anyone who wants to have a tent revival or circus in Hialeah can hold it only once a year and for only 15 days.

Martinez said he proposed the ordinance after residents complained about a tent revival mission at the corner of West 12th Avenue and 44th Place. The mission, held by Pastor Oscar Aguero, has been in Hialeah several months.

Under a present city ordinance, tents for gatherings can be up for 30 days. After that, the owner or operator can ask for several extensions -- in effect creating a church that does not have to comply with city and state building codes.

"I don't think it's fair to established churches," Martinez said. "Once they get the people in the tent, they should be guiding them into a church."

But some ministers see the ordinance as an attempt to curtail their preaching and spoke out against it before dozens of people, many clutching Bibles.

"If the Lord guides me to put a tent in the same site for another 10 days, is that OK?" asked the Rev. Luis Miranda, who has held two tent revivals in Hialeah.

Martinez said that would be against the ordinance.

"If the Lord gives you that light, you'll have to wait a year," he said.

The ministers learned of the ordinance after Aguero went on Spanish-language radio to criticize the proposal. Aguero did not attend the meeting and could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

The council approved the ordinance 6-1. Councilman Herman Echevarria voted against it after proposing a compromise that would allow tent gatherings more than once a year.

In other matters, the council:

* Added an additional $35,000 to the depleted defense fund in the santeria church suit. The church, which practices animal sacrifice, is suing Hialeah in federal court after the council passed three laws that outlaw animal sacrifice. In October, the city gave its defense lawyers $35,000.

* Tentatively approved an ordinance calling for a special election Nov. 8 to let voters decide if the mayor's term of office can be expanded to four years. A second issue calling for group elections for the City Council rather than at-large elections also will be on the ballot, the council tentatively approved Tuesday.