Kamloops now has an airshed management plan.

City council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the plan (except Coun. Nelly Dever, who was absent).

Now come the first steps toward action.

City sustainability and environmental services manager Jen Fretz said one of the first financial requests to implement the plan is for $20,000 to go toward a wood stove exchange program.

It would match the $250 per stove exchange offered by the province, she said. Kamloops has 95 homes with permitted stoves.

Council members were happy to see the plan adopted.

"This has been a long time coming," said Mayor Peter Milobar.

"It's great we're finally officially ratifying the plan," said Coun. Donovan Cavers, although he admitted he would have preferred "grittier" targets.

Coun. Tina Lange said there are factors affecting the air that the City can't control, such as forest fires and even dust.

"The biggest impact on the air quality is we drive too much," she said.

Fretz said the City is already taking some steps to clean up its own emissions, through encouraging alternative transportation and offering HOV parking, among other initiatives.

Coun. Ken Christian said the plan is a good document, but he wants to see the City get on with action.

Always concerned about the proposed Ajax mine, Cavers asked if there were particulate not being managed if the mine went ahead, would the plan be helpful in getting the company to meet standards.

Fretz said the City could share its concerns with the company, but that would probably be about it.