The Downtown Steering Committee adopted by the City Council in December 1999, was created to assure coordination between all organizations with downtown-related responsibilities through a steering committee, contracts, and periodic meetings. The Council adopted a Statement of Duties for the committee on March 5, 2001 that include:
• Monitoring and reporting progress on the Downtown Strategy;
• Coordinating and aligning the activities of various organizations involved in downtown;
• And annually reviewing and developing recommendations for the use of Downtown Fund money (the increased business license tax), which would be used in developing contract(s) for the use of the money.

The Committee consists of seven members, each representing organizations with vested interest in the success and character preservation of Downtown Merced. The seven organizations include: Design Review Commission, Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Conference and Visitors Bureau, Merced County Arts Council, Merced County Historical Society, and Merced Downtown Association. At the February 6, 2006 Council Meeting the one-year term appointment of members was changed to a three-year term.